THE spectacular results of the 14th general election at the national and state level have changed the political landscape of Malaysia. Some political pundits described GE14 as “tsunami rakyat”, “political earthquake”, “watershed and an awakening”, and a recent book edited by Loh and Netto (2018) referred to it as a “regime change”. Whatever descriptions given, it is indeed true to what had happened at the national level. 

Interestingly, in Sabah, it probably has not amounted to a total “change of regime”, as the initial result of GE14 for the Sabah legislative assembly had no winner. After horse trading for several hours, Sabah BN managed to form the government with a simple majority after two State Reform Party (Star) assemblymen pledged support to Musa Aman, which allowed BN to obtain 31 seats out of 60 seats in the assembly. However, the BN government led by Musa only lasted 48 hours, as BN lost its majority after United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) pulled out from Barisan National, followed by several Umno assemblymen, and pledged their support to Shafie Apdal’s Warisan party. This political situation led to a constitutional crisis in Sabah over the legitimacy of the chief minister’s post between Musa and Shafie, which was finally resolved after the High Court ruled Shafie was the legitimate chief minister. 

The Sabah government is now lead by a Warisan-Pakatan Harapan-Upko coalition under the leadership of Shafie. At the early stages of this new coalition government, people were sceptical as it was perceived to be a marriage of convenience and seemed very fragile. On the other hand, a new opposition bloc known as Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS), comprising Umno, United Sabah Party (PBS), Star and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) was seen to set greater challenge to the current government and pledged to strengthen component parties to create an alternative alliance to form the government and govern the state well, fairly and equitably. Furthermore, GBS is set to work hard and be prepared to win the next general election. 

On December 12, Sabah Umno received shocking news when nine of its assemblymen, five MPs and two senators, quit the party. Among the reasons given to justify their departure were that Umno was politically untenable in Sabah, that it was losing its political direction due to its current leadership and the state needed effective Federal-state relations for the development of Sabah. The mass exodus of Sabah Umno leaders declaring themselves as independent assemblymen supporting the government of the day is a major blow that will further handicap Umno nationwide. Beside that, it also strengthens the perceptions that Umno is disappearing from Sabah’s political landscape and opens the door to welcome the Bersatu to set foot in Sabah, even though its president, Muhyiddin Yassin, said it was too soon to expand its wings in Sabah. 

It is also interesting to observe how GBS will keep its momentum to become an alternative alliance that can convince and give hope to the people on its struggles. According to PBS deputy president Maximus Ongkili, GBS will pursue a political relationship with the former Sabah Umno leaders once everything was settled but this sounds ironic as these leaders clearly pledged full support to the Pakatan Harapan government under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir and Shafie as chief minister. GBS is in dire need of restrategising its approach and struggles without Umno. Perhaps, it should anticipate that PBRS will also pull out as Pensiangan MP Arthur Joseph Kurup was present during the press conference on the departure of Sabah Umno leaders and assemblymen. With few assemblymen in GBS, it must prove its credibility to become an effective opposition and keep checks on the government thoroughly and constructively.

Sabah political dynamics will continue to surprise the people of Sabah. The politics of “cari makan”, as coined by a political scientist in Sabah, Dr Arnold Puyok, seems to be very much applicable to the current political scenario in Sabah. Many people are focusing on the trend of party-hopping being part of Sabah’s political culture but it appears that the “cari makan” culture is partly behind what has led to this unhealthy political culture. If everyone wants to be part of the government, then who will be the opposition? We need a strong and constructive opposition to discharge checks and balances on the government. Therefore, it is high time political leaders go beyond the politics of “cari makan” and be the real champions of the people. – December 15, 2018.

* Tony Paridi Bagang reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.