DIVIDED and desperate to become “YBs” are the reasons Sabah opposition leaders are forming their own parties, Deputy Chief Minister Yahya Hussin said today.

The state now has the largest number of political parties in the country at 31 and only eight are in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, he said. 

“Most of the remaining parties are the opposition. It shows they (opposition leaders) don’t have unity and are split.

“Probably, their only interest is to become candidates and YBs (elected representatives).”

Yahya said this after delivering his keynote address to civil servants from various federal and state agencies in the Putatan district. 

Present was Putatan MP Marcus Mojigoh. 

A total of 13 new parties were approved by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) after the 2013 general election amid calls by Sabah voters for the opposition to work together for straight fights at the time.

There is also a vocal civil society movement – “5 on 5” – whose leaders include former state secretary Simon Sipaun calling for straight fights the previous elections.

Putrajaya approved all 13 parties, and not the Sabah RoS office, according to its director, Nelbon Tulis.

Just recently, Parti Warisan Sabah, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Cinta Sabah, Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Kebangsaan Nasional Sabah and Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sabah joined the fray.

Although many of the opposition parties promise to restore the state’s special rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, Sabah opposition leaders have failed to form any political pact to win elections. 

Instead, they are reduced to name calling, with some parties branding others as BN-sponsored or BN-friendly parties.

Talks of an electoral pact between Warisan and the national opposition coalition, Pakatan Harapan, are rife but the leaders have yet to start seat negotiations although the 14^th general election must be held by August.

This shows the opposition is nothing like BN, said Yahya. 

“BN has already settled in terms of machinery and seat distribution… All decisions are made by the top leadership of the BN parties, and all members will support them. 

“Our leaders have unity in mind and, therefore, this trait will make BN the right coalition to develop and govern Sabah.” – February 15, 2018.