Sabah Chronicle

---

THE curtains are down for Sabah election. 'Gabungan Rakyat Sabah' (GRS) comprising of BN and PN components won the simple manjority to form the state government. However, the number 38 spells danger although Warisan's 32 still looks formidable. Should the 3 Independents join them, they will have 35 which accounts for 73 state assembly seats in Sabah.
However, an Independent has avowed support to GRS, giving the national party a bit of comfort of 39

Now, the tug-of-war is on the right candidate to become Chief Minister. Some say the party with most seats must have the privilege

GRS is not registered as a party or a coalition. This is a dampening fact for PM Muhyiddin Yassin to swallow. In GRS, his Bersatu only garnered 10 seats compared to Umno's 14 in Barisan Nasional. Umno has the choice in Bung Moktar Raden while Bersatu has hoped for Hajiji

By logic, someone from Umno must fill up the chief minister post. Umno president Zahid Hamidi and his Cabinet 'buddy' Muhyiddin is not on the same wavelength in this matter, and that's the general comprehension of many

That makes matters worse

Another logic is, the chief minister post is the prerogative rights of the Yang Dipertua Negeri. This sends shivers to my spine. I believe it ratters many quarters too. Basically Warisan government is deposed and BN-PN must have it

But this doesn't stop there

There would be some 'dealings' to enable the party with most seats to grab the chief minister post. In its announcement, the Election Commission did not single out PRS but only Bersatu, BN, PKR, PBS, Warisan, UPKO and the Independents. What does it mean? I concluded that GRS is not recognised as a party nor a valid coalition

So, how does it go from here

Someone in Bersatu could have started 'offering' the winners from a few parties NOT to vote for Umno-BN's Bung Moktar. If the deal goes through, Bersatu will have more seats than Umno to claim its rights to the chief minister seat. The 'katak' trending will relive again

It will happen. Just count the days. Muhyiddin is adamant with his choice, and so is Zahid

Again, how to settle it amicable

The person who holds the key to stop all this power chess is non other than Zahid Hamidi. Just pull the plug on the Perikatan Nasional to pave the way for general election. Muhyiddin will be left to no choice but to dissolve the Parliament

The people is fed up with all this power struggle. Once and for all, Zahid can put a stop to it. Like it or not, the PM must do it

This is how I digest it, from a layman's binocular

(Another thing, I noticed that some Independents were planted by Bersatu in some of the seats contested by Umno. It is true? Some confirmed it...could be... a signal how unfaithful Bersatu is to Umno and Barisan Nasional)

---