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AS Sabah heads to the polls on 29 November, Perikatan Nasional (PN) will contest with the aim of forming the next state government, even if it means Sabah would be led by an opposition administration at the federal level.
Sabah Bersatu chief and Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee says the coalition is prepared for that outcome, arguing that Sabah’s rights can still be defended “without hostility” toward the Madani government in Putrajaya.
In this interview, Kiandee discusses PN’s goals, the meaning of Sabah for Sabahan, and why cooperation matters more than confrontation.
Q: PN is contesting to form the next Sabah government. Are you ready for the state to fall under opposition rule if PN wins?
A: We are prepared. We will contest under the Perikatan Nasional banner, and we are aiming to form the government.
Sabah politics is dynamic. We’ll go in under PN, but we’re not fighting anyone.
We can still defend Sabah’s rights, but we must do it without hostility.
Q: How is Bersatu rebuilding after losing many leaders to defections?
We have rebuilt the party over the past three years. Those who left did so two years ago and since then we have installed new divisional heads.
Now we have installed all new bahagian and divisional heads — all 25 divisions except one in Paitan.
We have had our annual meetings for the last two years. The party structure is intact.”
Q: How many seats will PN contest, and is the goal to form the government or become kingmaker?
A: We are aiming to be the government. We have identified the seats, and the allocations will be announced on 11 November.
They’re mostly new faces, people with no baggage. The local voters will decide.”
Q: The Bersatu leadership crisis has deepened, with some leaders calling for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to step down. How is this affecting your preparations in Sabah?
A: All parties face problems, it’s normal. Azmin (Ali) also left PKR once. Every party goes through challenges. It’s normal for any political organisation to have hiccups along the way.
I hope it will not affect us here in Sabah. We just had our party meeting chaired by the president. As far as the state election is concerned, it’s business as usual. There’s no problem.
The leadership understands how important this state election is. Yes, the crisis is happening now, but whatever is going on at the federal level should not affect Sabah.
We will contest here under the Perikatan Nasional logo. We will finalise our seat allocations and announce them on 11 November.
Q: What is your view of the ‘Sabah for Sabahan’ slogan often used by local parties?
Sabah for Sabahan is about fighting for Sabah’s rights within Malaysia, especially under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. There’s nothing anti-federal about it.
The problem is how it’s used. Some people turn it into a slogan of convenience. From 1994 to 2018 we didn’t even talk about Sabah-based parties anymore. It only came back when it was politically convenient.
PBS turned anti-federal at one time but later rejoined BN. Every so-called Sabah-based party eventually goes back to federal politics when it suits them.”
Q: Do you reject the idea of ‘Sabah for Sabahan'?
A: I’m for Sabah for Sabahan too. But for me it means fighting for Sabah’s rights within Malaysia, not against it. We have to look at it from a national perspective.
The question is how you fight for those rights, do you shout from outside, or do you take your seat at the table where decisions are made?
When I was minister, deep sea fishing licences were all controlled by Kuala Lumpur. I devolved that power to Sabah’s fisheries director.
You can only do that when you’re part of the federal government, when you’re the policymaker, not just the implementer.”
Q: Some Sabah leaders are seen as hostile when talking about MA63. How do you view that?
A: Whenever we talk about MA63, the way some people speak, maybe the federal government also sees them as hostile. That’s exactly the problem.
MA63 shouldn’t be politicised. Whether you are in a Sabah-based or federal-based party, the fight is the same.”
Q: What is PN’s position on MA63 and the 40 per cent revenue entitlement?
A: The federal government shouldn’t appeal. That’s the spirit of the formation of this country, what Sabahans expected when we joined Malaysia. If they insist on appealing, I will have to rethink my position.
I cannot stay if the government I serve goes against the spirit of the agreement.
Q: There are concerns that PN’s alliance with PAS could alienate Sabah’s non-Muslim voters. How do you respond?
A: When PAS was in the federal cabinet, I sat with them. They never talked about hudud.
Even DAP and PKR worked with PAS before, in Selangor and at the federal level.
There’s nothing to fear. PAS is part of PN, and what matters to Sabah voters is delivery, not dogma.
Q: What kind of government would PN offer if it takes power in Sabah?
A: We can still defend Sabah’s rights, but we must do it without hostility. You’re not anti-federal just because you fight for Sabah’s rights. You just must know where to fight, inside the system, not outside it. – November 1, 2025
