Latest news with #Sabahans'
Focus Malaysia
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Sabah UMNO's identity crisis and the cost of being an easily-swayed political ‘lalang'
SABAH UMNO wants Sabahans to believe that it has always been a 'local boy', has deep roots in the Bornean soil and that its leaders are true sons of the land. This is certainly a bold move from a party long seen as an extension of peninsula politics, especially by those who still remember how the phrase 'Sabah for Sabahans' was once dismissed as insular, unpatriotic or even divisive. But politics – like the jungle wind – often blows in new directions; for Sabah UMNO at this very moment, the breeze seems to be blowing towards survival at any cost. Embracing the slogan it once mocked In a recent statement, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, UMNO's war room strategist and supreme council member, remarked hat UMNO should not be viewed solely as a Peninsula-based party. 'UMNO in Sabah is no longer a Malayan party. When a party has existed for 34 to 35 years in the state, it is no longer accurate to call it a Parti Malaya. Its leadership today is made up entirely of local Sabahans,' he enthused. This is a striking change in tone as once upon a time, Sabah UMNO was viewed as the regional arm of a national powerhouse. Its central leadership in Kuala Lumpur called the shots while state leaders – even senior ones – were often expected to toe the line. But as UMNO's influence continues to wane across Malaysia, the Sabah chapter seems to be scrambling to find a new identity. One that appeals to the growing grassroots sentiment that Sabah's fate should be decided by Sabahans, not Putrajaya. The irony is that this same sentiment, 'Sabah for Sabahans,' was long treated with suspicion by UMNO and its allies – painted as parochial and even anti-national. But now, with its influence diluted and voter trust on shaky ground, the party appears ready to adopt the very rhetoric it once ridiculed. This shift, however, is not just about public messaging. It's about political survival. Fractures below the surface The internal cracks in Sabah UMNO are already visible. The party's Sabah deputy chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan recently broke ranks to criticise the infamous Langkah Kinabalu. It was a decision by Sabah UMNO to pull out of the state government in early 2022. In Abdul Rahman's view, it was a strategic misstep that has 'greatly weakened' the party, leading to a loss of credibility and a wave of defections. Instead of making a principled stand, he argued, party leaders should have resigned if dissatisfied, not torpedoed the entire coalition from within. These are not small words. Coming from someone of Rahman Dahlan's stature, they point to unresolved tension within the party. It's something that Sabah UMNO's current leadership is keen to downplay. In response, state chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin issued a carefully worded statement by contending that while differing views are respected, the party has since moved forward through consensus. But consensus doesn't always mean unity. Sometimes, it's just plain silence. The broader question is what does Sabah UMNO actually stand for today? Is it still the same party that believed in top-down politics and centralised decision-making? A party in the wind Right now, the signals are mixed. The 'Sabahanisation' of UMNO feels more like re-branding than re-invention. It's seen as an attempt to stay relevant in a political landscape that has dramatically shifted. Local parties like PBS and STAR – who are part of the ruling GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) state government – have anchored themselves in Sabahan identity and issues. For them, the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment wasn't just a slogan. It was the foundation of their political existence. But for Sabah UMNO, it's a costume worn out of necessity. This lalang a.k.a. sitting on fence mentality of shifting positions depending on political winds has long haunted Malaysian politics with Sabah UMNO being no exception. Their decision to leave the Sabah state government in 2022 was framed as a stand on principle. Now, it's being quietly acknowledged as a mistake. UMNO's embrace of Sabah-centric rhetoric is framed as organic evolution but in truth, it smells more like desperation. Voters have lived through a decade of instability, crossovers, defections and backdoor deals. The old model of loyalty to party brands no longer holds. Sabahans are now asking sharper questions such as who fights for Sabah's rights? Who listens? Who flip-flops when it's convenient? Sabah UMNO is running out of time to answer those questions convincingly. If the party hopes to reclaim its footing, it will have to do more than tweaking its messaging. It must show through action that it has shed its peninsula-first instincts, that it can be trusted to put Sabah first even when it's politically costly. Until then, Sabah UMNO remains a party adrift – caught between its past and its future – with no clear anchor but the pursuit of power. – July 22, 2025 Main image credit: Sabah News
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Umno leaders ignorant of MA63: Ruslan
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: Iskandar Dzulkifli Text Size: Ruslan criticised those who equate Sabah with other states, saying it reflects ignorance of the formation of Malaysia. PAPAR: Umno's Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan should not belittle the 'Sabah for Sabahan' (S4S) slogan by equating Sabah to other states in Malaysia when the Malaysia Agreement clearly held that both Bornean states are partners and not states of Malaya. Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice President Datuk Ruslan Muharam said that S4S symbolises the aspirations of the people of Sabah who want to see the state progress and prosper under the leadership of its own people, while still valuing cooperation with the Federal Government. Advertisement 'S4S is a reflection of reality, not mere political rhetoric. It embodies the spirit of Sabahans' struggle for their rights and privileges as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),' Ruslan said during the launch of the G-NIUS e-Tuition programme. He stressed that Ahmad should be more aware and respectful of Sabahans' sensitivities, and not undermine S4S, which represents the rights and dignity of the people of Sabah. Ahmad, who is also the Head of Umno's Central War Room Secretariat, recently said that the slogan 'Malaysia for Sabah' (M4S) is more inclusive than S4S. The Pontian MP argued that M4S implies that Sabahans are not only for Sabah but are part of a greater Malaysian identity shared with the other 14 states. In response, Ruslan reiterated that Sabah is not just a state but one of the three founding regions of Malaysia, alongside Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, under the MA63 agreement. Ruslan, who is also the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah, criticised those who equate Sabah with other states, saying it reflects ignorance of the formation of Malaysia. 'Sabah is a region, not an ordinary state. Its status is unique and special, alongside Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, in forming this country as stipulated in MA63, in line with the 2022 constitutional amendment. Therefore, all parties should acknowledge this fact, and respect the history and spirit of the agreement which laid the foundation of modern-day Malaysia,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Amanah seeks five seats in Sabah, pledges unity with PH
Published on: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 19, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Mohamad with other party leaders. Kota Kinabalu: Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) has launched its election machinery in Sabah while continuing seat negotiations with its Pakatan Harapan (PH) partners ahead of the state polls. Amanah President Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the party has requested to contest five seats, including Tanjung Aru, Lumadan and Sulabayan, but no final decisions have been reached. Advertisement He assured that Amanah remains committed to PH unity, noting that two of the requested seats have been tentatively agreed upon but are still subject to coalition approval. Mohamad also responded to the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment by affirming that all Amanah candidates fielded in the state will be Sabahans and announced plans for grassroots campaigns across Sabah. Sabah Amanah chairman Lahirul Latigu said the party aims to avoid three-way contests, and while more seats have been requested, any final allocation will depend on ongoing discussions within PH. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Afterglow of PBS and STAR Convention
The Chief Minister with PBS and Star leaders at the convention on July 12. THE election fever has gone up a significant number of notches up the scale! Thanks to the rousing PBS and Star Convention at the Hongkod Koisaan on July 12, Sabahans have now been triggered to a palpably higher fever pitch. Everyone with the smallest dosage of interest in political developments is watching more sharply, pouring out all the rumours he has in stock for good over-coffee political 'analysis'. It is amazing how excitement can turn novices into blind-shooting pundits overnight! What was the convention's objective and what had it achieved? Obviously, it was to foster greater unity between two brothers, to flex muscle for a pre-combat posturing — to send a message to voters that the two parties are the new force to be reckoned with. But what it achieved was beyond expectation. The 7,000-strong crowd that the two parties managed to gather from all over Sabah was, I believe, a record for an organizational convergence at the Hongkod. And the attendants' pre-election spirit rose to the ceiling and synergized into a spontaneous frenzy. Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan's entry into the hall was received with the loudest applause and cheers from the PBS and Star members who chanted 'Solo, solo, solo …'. They had already known of Dr Jeffrey's anointing by the Huguan Siou, Tan Sri Jseph Pairing Kitingan, to be undisputed future president of a possible PBStar merged entity and, therefore, its chief-in-command of the coming election campaign force. On the other hands, Datuk Joachim Gunsalam tripped in his address by speaking on the possibility of working with Pakatan Harapan, triggering an instant backlash of loud booing from the crowd, which, long-enamoured with the 'Sabah for Sabahans' slogan, was in no mood for compromise or collaboration with Peninsula-based parties. Reflecting this sentiment, the dominating one-word slogan of the day was 'Solo!' to which the MC, Ardino Diris, fed on by continually saying it in his leading from the stage, and never once failed to get instant and rousing supporting 'Solo!' shouts from the audience. The crowd continued to chant 'Solo, solo, solo …' with vigour even during the address by the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajii Hj. Noor, who was elated by the sheer size of the crowd. He remarked later that with such an indication of support there was no reason to doubt a GRS election victory. In his Instagram post he again expressed excitement: 'The PBS-STAR Convention 2025 last night symbolized the strong unity between the two local parties that are the main pillars of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition. This proves that GRS is ready to face the 17th State General Election with a united, strong and capable leadership lineup.' But the verbal expressions at the event didn't reflect the unspoken feelings of PBS and Star members and supporters. The 'Solo' shout to Dr Jeffrey had a different suggestive meaning from the one shouted at the CM – to Dr Jeffry, solo for PBStar, and to the CM solo for GRS. There are post-convention whispers that while giving due respect and courtesy to our state CEO, they feel the occasion should have been officiated by Tan Sri Huguan Siou, to forge a stronger 'in-house' unity. Shimmering below the surface is the old, half a century of Momogun nationalism that was stifled but never died, as Margaret Roff wrote to end her paper on 'The Rise and Demise of the Kadazan Nationalism', with the phrase 'one wonders … if it has been killed so easily'. No, it still simmers long, quiet and undying. Spurred by memory and simmering spirit of 1985, the Momoguns in the two parties are now quietly envisioning a new Sabah in which they play a commanding leadership role. In the current political structure and chessboard they are face with the dilemma of dreaming of hegemony (which is no longer easy to grasp) and having to compromise and accept power sharing (which is more achievable and pragmatic). Some even extend their imagination to a possible creation of a PBStar-led coalition san-GRS, a projection which made the Star secretary general, Datuk Edward Linggu, ask this writer if 'we should be emotional or rational'. But admittedly, to noticeable degree, this dream has somewhat solidified behind the curtains at and after the convention. Weighing the pros and cons of being in or outside the GRS post-assembly dissolution, a segment of party leaders and members are keeping their fingers crossed for the possible turn of events, a readjustment of political alignments, which will justify a true 'solo', i.e. PBStar only, foray into the PRN17. But for the moment several key Star leaders are adamant that the party's more realistic option is to march forward within GRS, while top PBS leaders such as Joachim Gunsalam and Datuk Joniston Bangkuai have repeatedly stated their 'commitment' to remain in GRS. But then again, there are those nudging top leaders in Star to seriously consider for the party to go solo, even without PBS. They are calculating possible sudden positional advantage should drastic change of the current scenario takes place, e.g. if the corruption allegations against state non-Star leaders develop into highly damaging legal battles, or PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's legal tangles incapacitate him. But the CM may already be pre-empting such a development with an early dissolution of the state assembly, possibly next month. The other factor in the decision-making consideration is election funding which would distort political ambition, ideology and strategy. If cash is truly king, then those with abundant stocks, will gain leveraging on the voters' hunger for vote-buying handouts, especially with the current inflationary and income-strapped economic climate. While rumours circulate in kopitiams and WhatsApp about a flood of vote-for-me gifts in the cities and poor villages, with some speculating that it could amount to billions of ringgits, mosquito parties are scratching their heads in panic, praying for miracles to empower their campaign ideologies and promises. But then again Berjaya and Barisan Nasional were defeated despite massive bankrolls. So while the pre-election excitement rise steadily to explode into a frenzy soon, Star continues to bath in the warm afterglow of the convention, although with some questions on strategy still hanging in the air. At the same time PBS feels a lack of confidence to safari solo into the hunting ground, believing in the security of clinging to the bigger hunting team. But let's not forget that size doesn't guarantee the amount of harvest; even the Titanic, the ship that 'even God couldn't sink', sunk tragically!
Daily Express
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Prioritise youths' aspirations, Star and PBS told
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 Text Size: Prem said the study also revealed that ideologies such as 'Sabah for Sabahans' and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) resonate strongly with this group. Kota Kinabalu: The leadership of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) should focus on youth-related issues in preparation for the 2025 state elections (PRN 2025), as recent statistics show that Malaysians aged 18-39 make up 50.47pc of the country's total electorate. Star Sabah Assistant Secretary-General, Prem Bechile Kitingan, said that this shift in voter demographics was highlighted in a study conducted by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), presented by Associate Professor Dr. Bonaventure Boniface at the PBS-Star Convention last Saturday. Advertisement 'Through the 2019 Constitutional Amendment, Malaysians aged 18 and above are automatically registered as voters, which also qualifies them to become election candidates,' said Prem, who is also the Director of the Sokid Villa Solidarity Research Centre. Prem added that in Sabah, this demographic tends to favour election candidates who understand youth sentiment, are free from corruption, uphold strong religious values, and possess credibility and integrity. The study, conducted by 10 UMS academics led by Associate Professor Dr Lai Yew Meng, was presented to the public for the first time. The research team included Dr. Budi Anto Mohd Tamring, Dr. Shaffarullah Abdul Rahman, Dr Amy Azuan Abdullah, and Dr Yusten Karulus, all of whom were also present at the convention. The number of young voters in Sabah in 2024 is 910,471 (53%), a 23pc increase from 485,939 in 2022. Prem said the study also revealed that ideologies such as 'Sabah for Sabahans' and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) resonate strongly with this group. They are drawn to capable and integrity-driven local leaders, prefer coalitions of local parties over solo local parties, and are not attracted to the 3R ideology (religion, race, and royalty). 'Young voters also support efforts to resolve issues related to dilapidated schools, having qualified teachers for subjects and infrastructure needs such as roads, water, electricity and rural internet access,' he said. Despite being active users of social media, this group still considers parental influence in shaping their political stance. However, they also have a strong sense of state identity, prioritising the candidate's ideology over party struggles. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
