Looming dissolution of State Assembly puts focus on erratic nature of Sabah politics
KOTA KINABALU : – This state election is an opportunity to cull political parties off the Sabah political landscape.
Sabahans should vote for just one party with a credible leader.
Sabah doesn’t need too many parties with over-the-hill chiefs and self-serving warlords seeking projects.
The realisation of sustainability in state governance is the key to Autonomy.
The departure of STAR Sabah and SAPP from GRS had ignited significant reactions.
A new coalition with STAR and SAPP could then position itself as a formidable opposition force to make the GRS/PH/BN coalition in a weakened position, under the formidable weight of the anti-Malaya anger which has fired up the people.
But some people believe that Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Yong Teck Lee ditching GRS is a ‘Wayang’.
They believe no single party will be able to secure enough seats to form the new State Government.
Should GRS/PH-BN fail to get a mandate to remain in power, STAR and SAPP quietly wanted to be a Kingmaker.
Should Warisan also win many seats but not enough to take over the State Government, Shafie Apdal will likely invite Dr Jeffrey and Yong, and KDM to form a coalition government.
But Sabah’s politics is always full of surprises, sometimes. Who would have expected Hajiji Noor to be Chief Minister after the 16th State Elections?
His party did not win a single seat, yet he went on to be Chief Minister.
KDM, whose president is serving time in jail for forging a letter to secure a project, is being tagged by bigger political parties as Parti Nyamuk (Mosquito Party).
But acting President Prescella Peter Anthony and KDM leaders are confident that they will win most of the over 20 seats they’re going to contest.
KDM, too, can be Kingmaker. They believe they will be part of the forthcoming State Government.
More political dramas will emerge as soon as the 73-seat State Legislative Assembly is dissolved … perhaps tomorrow?
This article has appeared in the scoop.my
The writer is Joseph Bingkasan, a veteran journalist with unparalleled insights into Sabah politics.
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