IN May 2018, the road facing Sopiah Basir’s shop in Kinarut was a riot of colours and logos from all the flags of the political parties participating in the general election.

This time around, with the future of Sabah at stake, she’s seen only the red, black and orange of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

“It’s like there is no mood in this election. Two years ago I could see all sorts of flags but now there is only one,” said the 37-year-old vegetable trader.  

The main road of old Kinarut town fronts her shop and the road’s wide shoulder is a strategic spot for flags and posters of candidates.

But as the official campaign period entered its second day, there was only the lone poster of Janrywine J. Lusin, the LDP candidate for Kawang, even though the constituency is being fought over by four other parties.

Unlike past elections and by-elections where rallies and ceramah commenced on the night of nomination day itself, campaigning for the Sabah polls is off to a slow start.

Party flags have only started springing up in the capital of Kota Kinabalu while towns such as Putatan and Sepanggar have merely a sprinkling of the flags of the main alliances Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional and Warisan Plus.

However, billboards of incumbent chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal whose portrait is rendered in the colours of Warisan Plus, look down prominently on the thoroughfares that crisscross Kota Kinabalu.

A huge billboard that grabs the attention of motorists driving in Sadong Jaa states: “We are here to build a nation, not a particular race or religion”.  The billboard and its message have gone viral on social media attracting comments from Malaysians on the peninsula.

The Malaysian Insight has yet to see banners, billboards or ads proclaiming the slogans of Warisan’s rivals.

Warisan Plus comprises Parti Warisan Sabah, DAP, PKR and Upko.

Its main rival, PN, is in a loose pact with Sabah BN and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

The legislature’s 73 seats are also being contested by Sabah-based parties such as the LDP, United Sabah National Organisation, Parti Cinta Sabah and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.    

A campaign activist for Warisan Plus is hardpressed to explain the lack of activity on the campaign trail.

“Sunday is usually the perfect time to meet voters at the market or families on a breakfast outing. But I’ve only seen two of our candidates in the KK area going on walkabout programmes,” said the activist who requested anonymity.

“Maybe it’s because of the strict Covid-19 SOPs in place, which makes everyone extra careful about organising programmes,” the activist said, referring to the Election Commission’s rules to curb the spread of the coronavirus.  

Warisan component parties, PKR and DAP, have also been slow to start on the ceramah circuit with only one event held in the Tanjung Papat seat with DAP national leaders Teresa Kok and Wong Shu Qi.

Sabah BN chief Bung Mokhtar Radin, who is running for the Lamag seat, was the sole candidate to have shared with the media his itinerary and one with only two events at that – visits to Bukit Garam and Usaha Jaya polling districts.

Sabah youth movement UndiSabah attributes the dampened mood to the fact that the election was called only two and a half years into the new government’s term.

“The elections seem slow as voters are disheartened by the recent events where elected reps easily switched parties,” said UndiSabah project coordinator Mahirah Marzuki.

The elections were called after the Sabah legislature was dissolved following a change of allegiance among 14 elected representatives.

The 14 had switched their support from the Warisan Plus administration to ex-chief minister Musa Aman.

Before Musa could form a new government, Shafie sought and was granted the dissolution of the state assembly.

The dampened atmosphere will not discourage UndiSabah from holding its campaign appealing to the people to vote.

“We will continue to encourage voters to exercise their rights by coming out to vote,” Mahirah said. – September 14, 2020.