Possible split in ruling Sabah GRS alliance may echo divided opposition

KOTA KINABALU – The year 2021 saw the ruling Sabah parties maintain their fragile alliance, while the state opposition parties have pretty much split into two camps.

Questions, however, remain in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government as to whether Umno will honour its cooperation pact signed in January 2020.

Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin told party members during a meeting in Kinabatangan that they would likely go head on against Bersatu in the 15th general election (GE15).

“The autonomy Sabah Umno had was only for the state election, but not for the parliamentary election,” he said.

The Kinabatangan MP has already downplayed suggestions that GRS be registered as an official entity with the Registrar of Societies, indicating early signs that the cooperation with Perikatan Nasional will not last until GE15.

Umno leader Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak had earlier proposed to Sabah Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor for GRS to be registered, indicating that a meeting would be held soon to decide on the matter.

However, Sabah Umno’s proposed move seems to be emulating the stand made by the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The Umno leadership had officially ended their electoral cooperation with PN, especially Bersatu, in the forthcoming federal election, although both parties remain part of the federal government leadership at present.

In Sabah, GRS comprises Bersatu, Sabah Star, Sabah Progressive Party, PAS and Gerakan in PN, Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, MCA and MIC in Barisan Nasional, and government-friendly Parti Bersatu Sabah.

On the opposition front, Parti Warisan Sabah finally spread its wings to Peninsular Malaysia on December 17.

The expansion marked Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s move to forge a campaign for the prime minister’s post for GE15.

The party offers Malaysians a theme of unity and non-racial and non-religious policies as part of its framework.

At home, Warisan is also seen as moving away from former electoral partners Pakatan Harapan (PH), while Shafie has been talking openly of a possible cooperation with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed’s party Pejuang, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), and Muda led by the young Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

While Warisan and Muda have officially made their electoral cooperation official, the same cannot be said of Pejuang and PSB.

The year 2021 was also not a good year for Warisan as they saw the hopping of three of its assemblymen to the ruling camp.

The first to make the move was Sebatik assemblyman Hassan A. Gani on February 25. He later joined Bersatu on April 5.

The second to jump was Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Yusof Yacob on October 3, followed by Segama assemblyman Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, who later joined Bersatu on November 26.

Sabah PH welcomed Upko into their fold on August 26 this year, with party president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau saying that the party was always in talks with PH components.

Originally, PH only comprised PKR, DAP, and Amanah.

The year also saw Sabah PKR face a string of internal issues with many of its council leaders calling for its chairman, Datuk Christina Liew, to be removed.

On December 19, about 16 PKR division chiefs and six more council members said they had met with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the issue.

They claimed they wanted Liew to be replaced with a new chairman and have left it to Anwar to decide the matter.

The PKR division chiefs against Liew include Datuk Sangkar Rasam (Keningau), Sazalye Donol (Kota Marudu), Simsudin Sidek (Labuan), Dausil Kundayong (Tuaran), Franti Kuntau (Papar), Wendey Agung Baruh (Sipitang), Peter Sumping (Ranau), Raymond Ahuar (Pensiangan), Matusin Apang (Batu Sapi), Sahrudin Harol (Sandakan), Romansa Lamin (Silam), Sahrul Zakaria (Kalabakan), Barani Ampise (Tenom), Roslan Hussin (Kimanis), and Abdul Gani Zebika (Tawau).

Other party leaders opposed to Liew include Rubiah Onga (Sabah Wanita PKR chief), Datin Rufina Pangeran (Sabah Wanita PKR deputy chief), Manja Matdin (central exco member), Junaidah Makku (state Wanita PKR youth wing chief), Rosli Masliku (Sabah leadership council member), and Stefly Said (state leadership council member).

In response, Liew said the appointment of the Sabah PKR chairman is the prerogative of the party president, and she was not surprised by the group’s bid to have her removed.

Other political developments in Sabah include talks between Sabah PH and GRS to sign a memorandum of understanding similar to what was signed by the government and the opposition in September.

According to Liew, meetings have been held between Sabah PH leaders and Sabah GRS head and chief minister Hajiji, adding that a study was also being carried out to determine the terms of the understanding.

However, it is learnt that Sabah DAP has since withdrawn from discussions on the MoU. – The Vibes, December 22, 2021