01/12/2025

MONDAY | DEC 1, 2025

3 Sabah electorate deals blow to federal political parties

PKR accepts people voice with open heart has accepted with open heart the people’s decision in the state election, describing it as an important signal and a reminder that should be heeded in continuing the party’s political struggle. In a joint statement, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar and PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the election result this time also reflected the people’s sentiments on the issue of governance, transparency and leadership at the local level. Nurul Izzah and KOTA KINABALU: PKR strength, but also erodes the people’s confidence in the party’s ability to offer stable and responsible leadership. “I, as deputy president, take full responsibility collectively as a team for this decision. “Together with Saifuddin as the joint election director, we are aware that the long journey of a struggle does not lie in victory alone, but in the willingness to acknowledge weaknesses, improvement and rise again better,” the statement said. Touching on PKR being given the space to contest in 12 seats in this election, Nurul Izzah and Saifuddin said this was an improvement that revealed the seeds of confidence in the party were beginning to germinate in Sabah. “The support of the machinery and members is also getting stronger – it may not be a victory in numbers, but it is a victory in determination,” the statement said. PKR expressed its appreciation and gratitude to all the party machinery and grassroots who have tirelessly sacrificed time, resources and energy throughout this campaign. The party also congratulated candidates who secured the people’s mandate including the single seat won by the party. “Carry this trust with determination, serve with honestly because every action you take will determine the future of the people who voted,” the statement said. – Bernama Saifuddin said the result of the polls brought a clear message that disagreement not only weakens political

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Heavy losses for PH and hung assembly highlight growing state-first identity and widening disconnect between Putrajaya narratives and local realities, say analysts

“We will see, because I knew that the GRS government with BN would not last long. I mean there are always dynamics in politics in this state,“ he said. Meanwhile, he also expressed his appreciation to the Chinese community in Sabah following the significant increase in support from the community’s voters for Warisan in the polls, which saw eight DAP candidates lost in the election. – Bernama a liability, even in Chinese-majority urban areas which were once DAP strongholds.” Awang Azman highlighted two key drivers – the prime minister’s senior political secretary Sabah mineral scandal, which eroded PH’s anti-corruption image and the rise of local parties such as GRS and Warisan, offering a Sabah-first alternative independent of Perikatan Nasional. “Sabah for Sabahans and Sabah First frames became powerful sorting tools. “Voters drew a clear line between local parties and those perceived as Malaya-based. Warisan repositioned itself as a Sabah-first vehicle, even appealing to urban constituencies previously dominated by DAP.” He added that the results expose a disconnect between federal narratives and local realities. “PH’s macro-reform, fiscal consolidation, and institutional clean-up resonate in Putrajaya but Sabahans face dirty water, unreliable electricity, poor roads and slow project delivery. National reform rhetoric feels abstract when basic grievances remain.” The scandal involving the prime minister’s inner circle reinforced perceptions that Sabah’s resources were controlled by distant elites, further weakening PH’s credibility, he added. Awang Azman urged federal parties to heed the message – localise campaigns, empower Sabah-rooted leadership, field candidates with strong community ties and demonstrate accountability through visible consequences for mismanagement or corruption. “If PH treats this as a local glitch, it risks repeating the same mistakes in Sarawak and future Sabah elections,” he warned. The election concluded with a hung parliament – GRS secured 29 seats, Warisan 25, reinforcing local parties’ dominance. Federal-linked PH, including PKR and DAP, suffered heavy losses, while PN claimed just one seat. “The collapse of DAP in its traditional bastions shows that even loyal bases can swing when local and economic grievances dominate. “It strengthens local partners’ bargaining power with Putrajaya and serves as a warning – fail to deliver and similar setbacks could hit peripheral regions in GE16.”

PETALING JAYA: Sabah voters delivered a searing rebuke to federal based parties in the 17th state election, decimating DAP and leaving PKR with a solitary seat, signalling the rise of Sabah-centric politics and sounding a warning ahead of GE16. Analysts say the results reflect a decisive shift towards local identity, demonstrating that national narratives alone no longer sway the state’s electorate. Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun attributed Pakatan connect with local voters. “PH largely recycled pre-2018 BN tactics, highlighting so-called deliverables that voters barely felt Harapan’s (PH) collapse in Sabah to its failure to

while defending what has become indefensible – corruption scandals. “Many of its constituencies are urban or suburban, where sociopolitical awareness is higher. Voters gravitated towards an alternative, hope-driven narrative.” Oh described the losses as “catastrophic”, wiping out PH’s influence in East Malaysia and warned that similar challenges could emerge nationally if the coalition maintains the same approach. “The ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ mandate is almost evenly split between GRS and Warisan.

“Unless PH works closely with local partners, Sabah’s hand remains weak. The coalition must ensure its reform agenda produces tangible results and maintain credible anti corruption credentials.” Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Datuk Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the election marks a broader rejection of federal-linked parties and the assertion of a Sabah first political identity. “PKR winning just one seat out of 22 candidates and DAP wiped out in all eight constituencies it contested shows the national PH brand is now

A cheerful group of voters pose with their inked fingers after casting their ballots at the SK Kokol polling centre in Inanam, one of the most heavily contested seats featuring 13 candidates. – BERNAMAPIC

No post-polls negotiations held: Shafie KOTA KINABALU: Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd

“No ... I’ve already slept ... I’m tired of campaigning for days and I’ve been working for more than four years. In this election, I haven’t met with any party leaders.” He said this when asked if he had met and discussed with any political party leaders in the state on the possibility of forming a coalition of political parties to govern the Sabah government. It was Shafie’s first press

conference after his party, Warisan, secured 25 state seats compared with 29 for GRS, while Barisan Nasional secured six, Independent five, PH one, PN one, Upko three, STAR two and KDM one. As soon as the Election Commission (EC) announced the party that won the most state seats in the state election, GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was sworn in as Sabah chief minister for the second term

before Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman in a ceremony at Istana Seri Kinabalu yesterday. Hajiji also successfully defended his Sulaman seat. Asked if Warisan was ready to become the opposition, Shafie said his party was only looking at the situation based on what had happened during the early stages of the formation of the Sabah government after the 2020 election.

Shafie Apdal confirmed that he has not met any political party leaders following the results of the 17th state polls yesterday, which saw GRS win 29 state constituencies. Shafie, who defended his Senallang seat, said he would only meet political party leaders involved at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting.