Salleh…Each seat should only be contested by one candidate from the coalition to prevent three-cornered contests that could benefit the opposition.
KOTA KINABALU : The distribution of seats within an electoral coalition involves negotiations that must balance the interests of individual parties with the collective goal of winning the election (PRN).
In this context, former Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Dr. Salleh Said Keruak, outlined several key principles that guide this process.
He emphasised that factors such as winnability and the strength of the party machinery are critical.
“Seats are allocated to the party that has the best chance of winning, based on past election performance, the robustness of the party’s machinery, and the results of voter surveys and sentiment analysis,” he said in his latest Facebook post.
Salleh, who is also the assemblyman for Usukan, noted that incumbents and historical rights are also considered in the seat distribution.
“If a party has previously won a seat and still enjoys strong support, they are given priority.
“However, if the incumbent has switched parties or their support has waned, the seat may be reassessed,” he added.
He pointed out that other important factors include the stability and balance of the coalition.
“The allocation of seats must take into account the interests of all coalition partners to ensure political stability and prevent internal tensions,” he remarked.
As the treasurer of Sabah UMNO, Salleh stressed the importance of managing seat distribution effectively to avoid vote fragmentation.
“Each seat should only be contested by one candidate from the coalition to prevent three-cornered contests that could benefit the opposition,” he explained.
He asserted that the seat allocation process should involve negotiation and compromise while also considering the quality and acceptability of candidates.
Salleh believes that agreements at both the federal and state levels should be prioritised during the seat negotiation process.
“A special mechanism should also be established to address any disputes related to seat distribution,” he concluded.”
