After Defeat In Sabah Harapan Leaders Warn Of Nationwide Backlash

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SABAH POLLS | PKR supreme council member Lee Chean Chung has issued a stark warning that the political shockwaves from the Sabah election yesterday could swell into a nationwide backlash if Pakatan Harapan fails to confront growing voter dissatisfaction.
“It’s a warning that Harapan’s integrity and progressive offering appear unclear and unreliable,” Lee said, stressing that the defeat should not be dismissed as a regional anomaly.
“This isn’t just a Sabah issue - without real change, a nationwide backlash may follow. Never take urban voters’ support for granted,” the Petaling Jaya MP posted on his Facebook.
The Sabah election, concluded last night, saw parties such as Harapan’s DAP and PKR, as well as Bersatu and PAS of Perikatan Nasional, which hold significant political territory in Peninsular Malaysia, being wiped out or losing in most of their contests.
DAP had lost its constituencies to Warisan, while its partner, PKR, had lost all but one of the 13 seats it contested.
PKR supreme council member Lee Chean ChungFormer Klang MP Charles Santiago echoed Lee’s concerns, describing DAP’s heavy losses in Sabah as a blunt verdict from voters - particularly Chinese voters who historically formed the party’s strongest base.
“DAP’s crushing defeat in Sabah is more than just a local political tremor. It’s a full-blown backlash, especially among Chinese voters who once formed the party’s core support,” Charles said in a statement today.
“When your most loyal base turns away, it’s not a warning sign anymore; it’s a verdict.”
‘Return to basics’
The DAP man cautioned that the anger witnessed in Sabah is already simmering in the peninsula, as voters are tired of being taken for granted, tired of mixed signals and a party that seems unsure of what it stands for whenever power is at stake.
Charles said DAP needs to return to basics: people-centred issues, cost of living, livelihoods, governance, accountability, transparency and public service.
Former Klang MP Charles Santiago"These are the fundamentals that built its reputation; not political manoeuvring or coalition acrobatics. Losing sight of this is exactly how it lost Sabah."
He added that a perception of arrogance has taken root, eroding the party’s identity as a people-centred movement.
“To survive, it must behave like a party of the people again. Grounded, disciplined, and focused on service - not posturing.
"Sabah’s results weren’t a fluke. They were a message. Whether DAP listens now will determine if this is just a setback or the beginning of a nationwide slide," said Charles. - Mkini

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