Sabah Election Sees Solo Bids Amid Coalition Shifts

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AS Sabah gears up for its 17th state election (PRN17), expected by December 2025, the political scene is heating up with fierce coalition talks and mounting disputes over how seats will be shared.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is preparing for a potential solo run as stated by GRS Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, following perceived slights from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH)’s pre-election pact.
This agreement, seen as sidelining GRS, has fuelled speculation of a “free-for-all” election, allowing Sabah voters to choose between local and peninsula-based parties.
Bangkuai framed PRN17 as a referendum on whether Sabahans prefer local leadership or parties headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, emphasising GRS’s proven governance and federal collaboration.
Warisan has firmly rejected alliances, opting to contest independently to uphold its Sabah-centric stance. Warisan members urged voters to reject “Malayan” parties and their local collaborators, citing Sarawak’s autonomy as a model. This rhetoric aligns with Warisan’s push for Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
In March, Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has reiterated his party’s position in contesting the upcoming Sabah election on its own, following a call to reconsider the decision.
Shafie said it is time for the people of Sabah to see that their future is not dictated by pressure from coalitions or political manoeuvring, where positions are bargained for and decisions influenced by various interests.
Conversely, BN, led by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is open to partnerships with local parties, including Warisan, and has held talks with PH to explore a grand coalition.
Zahid stressed the need for alignment between state and federal leadership to ensure stability, though no agreements are finalised. Bersatu, planning to contest PRN17, is also seeking alliances with experienced local parties, adding complexity to the negotiations.
The 2023 Sabah political crisis, where BN’s withdrawal from GRS triggered instability, underscores the fragility of coalitions. With GRS prioritising PH but open to others, and BN and Warisan exploring options, PRN17 risks a fragmented contest, testing Sabah’s preference for local autonomy versus federal influence.
Meanwhile, Bersatu, led by president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, will contest the PRN17 with potential seats already identified, according to secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Following a four-hour leadership meeting, Azmin announced ongoing negotiations with Sabah political parties to form alliances for the state’s prosperity and welfare.
Bersatu aims to partner with experienced parties to strengthen its influence, though specific partners were not named. A negotiation committee, led by Azmin and vice-president Datuk Radzi Jidin, will oversee these discussions to ensure a strategic approach for the upcoming election. —  Focus Malaysia

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