New Phase For People S Sovereignty In Sabah

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As someone who grew up in the late 1990s, I first learned the names of Sabah districts in two unexpected ways: through the Iftar timetable on television, and during election broadcasts.
Names such as Kudat, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Kota Belud and Tawau flashed across the screen long before I knew what those places looked like.
During election season, Sabah’s results often came earlier than the rest of the country, partly because polling stations closed sooner and because several seats were routinely won uncontested.
For decades, Sabah functioned as BN’s “fixed deposit”, even during the upheaval of the 1998 Reformasi movement.
The political logic was familiar: major parties gathered under a single ruling coalition, and meaningful challenges came mostly from strong independent candidates.
But the political landscape shifted after the 2018 general election. Sarawak moved first, forming Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Sabah followed a different path, experimenting with a blend of national and local coalitions, from the Warisan-PKR-DAP-Upko administration to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which later shifted to support the Madani government.
Sabah’s politics have always been unique. The state has produced leaders who have served as chief ministers and even federal ministers.
And unlike elsewhere, Sabahans consistently prioritise candidates over party labels. A study by the IDE Research Centre (Nov 7, 2025) found that 66.5 percent of Sabah voters chose based on the candidate, with only 33.5 percent voting strictly along party lines.
Sabah’s coalition politics also operates with its own internal logic. GRS and BN, for instance, were allies at the federal level in 2020 but direct rivals within Sabah.
In this state election, Pakatan Harapan and Warisan are competing against each other despite working together in Putrajaya. Similar dynamics apply to parties like KDM.
This complexity is precisely why managing Sabah’s political ecosystem is far from straightforward. The state exemplifies the idea that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies.
Sabahans want dignity, not slogans
Sabah’s evolving political formula is closely linked to longstanding frustrations over basic needs. Surveys and engagements consistently show that voters prioritise everyday concerns: water and electricity disruptions, poor infrastructure, and rising cost of living.
For many Sabahans, democracy is meaningful only if it improves their quality of life. Elections are not merely stepping stones for political careers, but instruments for empowering citizens to decide their future without undue influence.
To strengthen Sabah’s sovereignty, the political discourse must move beyond repetitive hostility and rhetoric that does nothing to resolve issues like the Malaysia Agreement 1963. What matters now is sincerity and delivery, not slogans.
Lessons from Fanon and the post-colonial trap
Frantz Fanon’s “The Wretched of the Earth” offers a powerful warning. Fanon observed that some post-colonial leaders replace foreign domination with a local elite that copies the same exploitative structures, merely transferring privileges into new hands.
This “national bourgeoisie”, as Fanon calls them, mobilises independence rhetoric while failing to reform the economic system or uplift ordinary people.
Fanon cautions that without structural change, elites become obsessed with ceremony and symbolism, neglecting the hard work of nation-building.
Malaysia is not a post-war colony in the same sense that Fanon describes, but his insights resonate. Political leaders who speak passionately about defending Sabah’s rights must also demonstrate the will to address long-standing structural challenges at home.
Critical moment in Sabah’s democratic journey
This 17th Sabah Election arrives at a pivotal moment for three key reasons.
1. The first election with 18-year-old voters. Since Undi18 was implemented in 2021, young Sabahans now play a direct role in shaping the state’s future.
2. The first election after Sabah’s anti-hopping law. With the 2023 amendment to the State Constitution, Sabah can look forward to greater stability, free from the party-hopping episodes that once plagued its politics.
3. The first election after Kota Kinabalu High Court affirmed Sabah’s right to 40 percent revenue entitlement. This landmark ruling compels all political parties to demonstrate a genuine commitment to Sabah’s constitutional rights under Articles 112C, 112D, and Chapter IV.
These developments collectively mark a new phase for the people of Sabah. The stakes are high, and the outcome will shape not only the next state government but also the empowerment and sovereignty of Sabahans for years to come.
In this moment of transition, Sabah deserves leaders who prioritise service over slogans, substance over ceremony, and sincerity over political gamesmanship. - Mkini
MUHAMMAD FAISAL ABDUL AZIZ is Bersih chairperson.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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