Sabah Parties Gear Up For Polls

---

 
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s political parties are gearing up for the 17th state election amid a flurry of possible electoral pacts, but firm deals have yet to materialise.
Major players, including the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and its former ally-turned-rival Barisan Nasional, are preparing to go it alone if ongoing negotiations with potential partners fail.
Observers say GRS, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Sabah Barisan, led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, are ready to go it alone if they fail to strike a deal with other political blocs.
Parti Warisan, under Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, is staying out of any alliance talks, positioning itself as the alternative to both coalitions with its multiracial party platform.
The coming election is expected to be shaped by a growing “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment, with voters increasingly drawn to local-based parties championing state rights and autonomy.
This political mood has fuelled support for both Warisan and GRS in recent years while putting pressure on national coalitions to localise their campaign narrative.
Hajiji, who is seen as preferring to continue cooperation with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan), stated yesterday that GRS was ready to face the election, with its machinery fully trained across all constituencies.
However, any pact will still require the endorsement of GRS’ eight-party coalition.
He added that no seat talks had taken place and that any cooperation must go through the GRS Supreme Council.  
CLICK TO ENLARGE
So far, Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan; SAPP under former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee; and Usno, led by former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, have been adamant that GRS should contest all 73 seats on its own.
These parties have pushed back against external collaborations for various reasons – Sabah STAR wants internal seat distribution settled first, SAPP rejects the involvement of national parties, and Usno has demanded greater respect and fair seat allocation, warning it may walk away from the coalition if sidelined.
Given that at least eight assemblymen, including four ministers from Hajiji’s Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), are embroiled in a bribery scandal involving mining licence approvals, the ruling coalition must carefully navigate any potential pact with Pakatan to reach a mutually agreeable seat-sharing formula.
Any potential deal between GRS and Pakatan is expected to hinge on the local bloc being allowed to contest at least 53 to 55 of the 73 seats at stake.
GRS, Sabah Pakatan and Sabah Barisan have not publicly disclosed the seats they are targeting.
Some observers believe that even if an agreement is reached, some seats could still be left open to free-for-all contests.
Meanwhile, Sabah Pakatan is also exploring a separate seat-sharing formula with Sabah Barisan to remain aligned with the federal-level unity government.
At the national level, leaders from both coalitions have expressed support for working together in Sabah.
Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, speaking at the PKR congress in Johor Baru on May 24, said, “I have discussed the matter with Barisan Nasional and Umno chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“We will work together on the condition that Pakatan Harapan is recognised as a partner to fight for the people of Sabah.”
Anwar has appointed Sabah Pakatan chairman cum Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick to lead coordination efforts for the state election.
By placing a Sabahan face at the forefront, Pakatan appears to be repackaging itself to appeal to local sentiments, positioning the coalition as part of Sabah rather than just a federal extension.
However, political observers observe that while national leaders are advocating for unity, Sabah leaders seem to be following a different path.
GRS comprises eight local parties: PGRS (Gagasan Rakyat), Sabah STAR, SAPP, Usno, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS).
Barisan comprises peninsula-based parties such as Umno, MCA and MIC, along with its Sabah component, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).
Pakatan consists of PKR, DAP, Amanah and Upko.
The 17th Sabah state election must be held following the dissolution of the state assembly, which is due by 11 Nov, 2025.
Speculation is rife that Hajiji may dissolve the assembly as early as the third week of July, after the official celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negri’s birthday on June 21. - Star

---