Commentary: The Sabah election: Can a coalition of Warisan, Star and SAPP topple Hajiji's GRS coalition?

By Simon Peter

Sabah elections, whether state or parliamentary, have always been exciting for every politically minded Sabahans. 

Even non-Sabahan Malaysians are also interested. They want to catch up with what’s happening there. For example, which parties are ganging up to form an election pact or will Parti Warisan Sabah gang up with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Sabah  Progressive Party (SAPP)?

Hajiji Noor, caretaker Sabah Chief Minister

Non-Sabahan Malaysians, including Sarawakians, are also interested to know if caretaker Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and his Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) team will retain power or will Shafie Apdal, Parti Warisan president, get more state seats to form the next government?

Many hard-core supporters of Star are also hoping for their president Jeffery Kitingan to be the next chief minister.

The court case on the 40 per cent of the total  revenue collected in Sabah be returned to the state has suddenly become an important weapon for the local parties to win support in the election.

Jeffery has for years appealed to the federal government to honour what has been agreed to at the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

 

Shafie Apdal, Warisan president

This is one of the conditions for Sabah to agree to form the federation of Malaysia, along with Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore.

Despite being enshrined in the Federal Constitution, the condition has not been honoured.

GRS, under Hajiji, has told Sabahans to vote for continuity. Hajiji has also insisted that there is nothing in forming a coalition government with PKR and DAP, and an election pact with Umno.

Shafie, Jeffery and Yong Teck Lee, SAPP president, have been calling on the Sabahan voters to support the local parties, saying that it is time that Sabah be ruled once again by local parties.

After the collapse of the PBS government in 1994, Sabah has been ruled by a mixture of local and Malayan-based parties, with Umno playing the main role.

 Since then Umno-led coalition had ruled Sabah until 2018.

On May 9, 2018 state election, BN-Umno and its partners won with a simple majority. But then six of BN’s newly elected assemblymen, in the wee hours, switched sides to Parti Warisan.

Thus, Parti Warisan and its coalition partners, PKR and DAP, with the support of UPKO, managed to form a pact of 39 seats in order to form a coalition government.

Jeffery Kitinga, Star president

On May 12, Shafie was sworn-in the chief minister, replacing Musa Aman.

However, Shafie dissolved the Sabah State Assembly on July 29, 2020 after Parti Warian-led government lost power, again when many state assemblymen from Parti Warisan crossed over and gave their support to Musa.

On September 29, 2020 state election, Parti Warisan, PKR, DAP and UPKO lost power to Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition of nine parties.

In early 1994, the PBS government collapsed after several of its state assembly left the party. Some of the present federal and state leaders involved in engineering the downfall of the PBS government are still active in politics or holding important posts in the federal and Sabah governments.

Many of those who left PBS are now leaders of their own parties.

After the downfall of the PBS government, an Umno-led Sabah government was formed. Those who had left PBS also joined the Umno-led government.

That is why I always say Sabah politics is very fluid. The only thing predictable in Sabah politics is unpredictable.

We cannot say for sure what will happen next immediately after the Nov 29 state election because anything can happen when it is the lest unexpected.

I once told a fellow journalist from Sarawak that if you want to know more about political tricks, money politics and back-stabbings, then you’ve got to look at Sabah for examples.

Seeing what had been happening in the past, we cannot say for sure that the winning coalition will form the next Sabah government.

While we cannot expect individual state assemblyman to change sides because of the anti-party hopping law, there is nothing to prevent a party from doing so.

The law does not cover political parties.

Switching sides should not be ruled out after the results of the Nov 29 Sabah state election have been all been declared. It is certain that a series of negotiations will take place among the parties.

Some of the interesting points being repeatedly raised by the local parties, especially Star, SAPP and Parti Warisan leaders, are:

“Look at Sarawak. It is ruled by GPS. No Malayan parties. Why can’t we in Sabah do the same?

“Sarawak is far ahead of us (in term of development).

“They have good roads (Pan Borneo Highway). They have their own airline.

“Most important of all Sarawak is very stable (politically) under Abang Jo.

“Do you think federal government dare to disturb Abang Jo?”

One thing is certain. Money politics will play an important role in deciding which coalition will form the next Sabah government. 

We have no time for politicking, but are busy on development, says premier

KAPIT, Nov 6 2025: Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg said that Sarawak has no time for politicking, unlike other parts of Malaysia.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg: Not busy on politicking, but busy on development is unique to Sarawak 

“We are busy on development, not busy on politicking,” he said at the opening of the new Upper Rajang Development Authority (URDA) regional office and witnessing the symbolic launch of the High Impact Community Project (HICP).

“That we are not busy politicking, but are busy on development is something beautiful and unique for us,” he said.

He said he and other state leaders come to Kapit not to do politicking, but to improve the livelihood of the people, whether it is in the urban or rural areas.

“Last week, I was in Limbang to launch the Northern Coastal Highway and may be, at the end of this month, I would  launch another road project, that is, from Miri to Marudi, Long Terawan straight to Mulu and then to Limbang,” he said.

He said the road from Mulu will eventually connect with Belaga, thus will open up land for development.

He said the next phase of development for Kapit will be on socio-economy after the completion of infrastructure projects, such as roads and water and electricity supplies.

He said he has discussed with Kapit MP Datuk Sri Alexander Nanta Linggiu and other leaders on the socio-economic programme for Kapit at the Sarawak Development Coordination Committee (SDCC) meeting held earlier in the morning.

He said the socio-economic programme will be the next phase to upgrade the livelihood of the people “because our target is to increase household income.”

“But we must have strategic approaches on how to increase the household income,” he said, adding that among the approaches are upgrading human capital and infrastructures.

The SDCC meeting this morning approved RM1.5 billion in alternative funding for 42 projects, including major road and bridge works, water supply initiatives, and the on-going Kapit Master Plan, which charts a sustainable and well-planned urban growth strategy for the region.

URDA has also implemented 24 socio-economic programmes under the COMMUNITY@SCORE initiative, benefiting local entrepreneurs, farmers, and small scale industries in agriculture, fisheries, and rural enterprise development.

The HICP aims to uplift rural livelihood and B40 communities by integrating inclusive

economic activities that strengthen the value chain and promote sustainable income

generation.

Through translational research, innovation transfer, and business facilitation, the programme seeks to create long-term socio-economic impact within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) region.

Under this initiative, URDA will oversee 60 participants across two  project

locations.

The projects worth RM5.5 million are funded by Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU), with Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) as strategic partner and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) as implementing agency.

 

SAS activists question legitimacy of Malaysia-US trade pact over Sarawak and Sabah

KUCHING, Oct 6 2025: Rights movement Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS) activists have questioned the legitimacy of the Malaysia-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA) over Sarawak and Sabah since  it was signed without consulting the two state governments.

SAS leader Peter John Jaban

RTA was signed recently by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the United States (US) President Donald Trump at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, last month.

They accused the federal government of entering an international pact without the requisite consultation or consent of the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak, saying that such an act is seen as constituting a betrayal of federalism and a direct violation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“This is not our deal. It was not signed with our consent," SAS leader Peter John Jaban said in a joint statement today.

He contended that the federal government's decision-making process is fundamentally flawed and neglects the status of Borneo states as equal partners in the federation.

Another activist Datuk Fabian Wong questioned the legitimacy of the pact, questioning why the deal was signed without the consent of the two Borneo regions. 

“Once again, the federal government has entered an international agreement without consultation or representation from Sabah and Sarawak.

“The federal government, particularly the prime minister, must not make major decisions that affect

our territory without prior consulting the Sarawak government, State Legislative Assembly (SLA) and informing the public,” Wong, a veteran military officer, said.

Datuk Fabian Wong

He insisted that the unilateral decisions made by Putrajaya cannot bind Sabah and Sarawak, and that using Sarawak’s resources as "tribute or collateral" for federal deals is unacceptable.

Wong said the gravest concern raised is the deal’s impact on Borneo’s control over its vital oil and gas resources. 

He highlighted the commitment made by Malaysia, as noted in the White House documentation on the trade agreement, which includes a significant commercial deal involving the purchase of up to five millions tons per annum of liquified natual gas at up to USD3.4 billion through multi-layer agreements with Petronas.

Willam Mangor

He said the deal compels Petronas to purchase the US natural gas, tying the national oil company

to long-term dependence on American suppliers.

“This move strips Sabah and Sarawak of our bargaining power in the negotiation with Petronas over our own oil and gas resources,” he claimed.

He also claimed that the trade pact prohibits Malaysia from protecting or prioritising local industries if it disadvantages the US corporations, thus forcing local farmers, fishermen, and small entrepreneurs in Borneo to compete against the heavily subsidised American agribusiness. 

Another SAS activist William Mangor called for a concrete plan to persuade the Sarawak government and relevant state institutions to act decisively to protect the state’s rights and resources.

He said the sooner this plan is developed and executed, the better.

 

PBDS calls for unity, coordinated action between political leaders and academics for the future of the Dayak people

KUCHING, Nov 5 2025: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has called for unity and coordinated action between political leaders and academics for the future of the Dayak people.

Dr Bernard Tahim: For PBDS, the struggle is not about who is right, but about what is right for the future of the Dayak people.
 

Its deputy president Dr Bernard Tahim said the need to align the directions of politics, academia and community must be prioritised in advancing Dayak progress.

“PBDS asserts that meaningful development cannot be achieved if each group works in isolation,” he said in a statement today.

He stressed politics without knowledge becomes blind while knowledge without action becomes paralysed, adding that a community without good leadership loses its sense of direction.

“Therefore, PBDS calls for the creation of a Dayak Coordination Platform whose purpose is to unite political leaders, academics, youth, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in drafting a long-term development agenda, whether through the proposed Dayak Community Special Unit (UKMD) or an alternative, a more integrated plan,” Dr Bernard suggested.

“From discourse to implementation, the Dayak people must no longer be a race that merely talks about NCR land, poverty, education, and economic opportunity without tangible outcomes.

“PBDS emphasises that every discourse must be followed by action, and every institution established must have a strategic plan with transparent annual performance indicators,” he said.

He said the Dayak nation must break free from what he called the cycle of “talk without results.”

He said the Dayak must rise together, adding that differences in opinion should not lead to division — rather, they should mark the beginning of a collective awakening, where political courage is supported by academic wisdom and fueled by grassroots spirit.

PBDS urges all parties to see the differences in opinion not as a personal dispute but as a call for unity and genuine reform of the Dayak nation.

“For PBDS, the struggle is not about who is right, but about what is right for the future of the Dayak people,” he added.

He said the party takes note of a recent public debate surrounding the proposal by Selanagu  Member of Parliament Edwin Banta for the establishment of UKMD under the Prime Minister’s Department. He noted that proposal aims to strengthen the socio-economic position of the Dayak community through a structured approach, modeled after the Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA).

He also said that the party views the differing opinions expressed by academics such as Datuk Professor Dr Jayum Jawan and Datuk Professor Dr Madeline Berma over the proposed UKMD as a healthy and mature debate as a sign of growing awareness in the discourse on Dayak development.

“However, PBDS stresses that the time for debate has long passed. Now is the time for action,” he said.

Dr Bernard said the party fully supports Edwin’s political courage, saying that it appreciates the MP’s initiative and boldness in presenting a concrete proposal to strengthen Dayak development at the national level.

He said the establishment of UKMD proves that there are Dayak representatives with vision and bravery to pursue institutional empowerment as a crucial step to ensure Dayak development is no longer a mere footnote in the government’s broader policies.

“While PBDS values the academic perspectives shared by Jayum and Madeline, it cautions that academic analysis should not be used as a reason to avoid implementation.

“Academic knowledge should serve as a guiding force to strengthen proposed policies — not to extinguish the enthusiasm of those seeking new solutions.

“PBDS urges Dayak academics to step beyond theoretical discussions and join in designing practical implementation plans that can bring real impact to the Dayak community,” Dr Bernard stressed.

In recent comments published in the Borneo Post, Jayum rejected Edwin’s proposal as “misplaced” and “a half-baked idea discussed over a bowl of kampua noodles.”

He had claimed that the Dayaks’ lack of progress was largely due to the mediocrity of their own lawmakers in introducing workable solutions that could really  and resolve key issues.

Madeline, meanwhile, had said that setting up a new institution meant creating another bureaucratic layer that would not address the root causes of Dayak underdevelopment such as high poverty rates, low academic achievement, unemployment, and low income levels.

She had suggested that the focus should instead be on strengthening governance and ensuring existing ministries and programmes deliver effectively.