THE ink is dry on the declaration. Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) have officially confirmed they will work together in the upcoming state election.
But as the announcement was made in Putrajaya — endorsed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi — the political ground in Sabah tells a different story.
The question now is not whether the pact has been declared, but whether it will hold.
Sabah BN, under Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, has already drawn clear lines — refusing to work with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The rift between the two is well-documented. It traces back to January 2023, when Bung led a failed coup to unseat Hajiji. The move not only collapsed but left Sabah BN pushed out of government, marking the start of an open rivalry that continues to this day.
Hajiji, meanwhile, has stayed relatively quiet. While GRS has expressed willingness to work with PH under the federal unity government framework, the same cannot be said for BN.
Hajiji has kept a strategic silence on Bung’s latest political manoeuvres, leaving observers to wonder if GRS will choose to “agree to disagree” or prepare for a direct clash.
On the other side, Sabah PH finds itself walking a political tightrope. Its state chief, Datuk Ewon Benedick, remains untested in leading the coalition through such high-stakes negotiations. Internal friction between Sabah PH’s component parties — particularly PKR’s long-standing unease with Ewon’s leadership — remains unresolved.
So far, Sabah PH has offered no clear reaction to the federal directive, leaving questions about whether the coalition will fully embrace the pact or resist it.
The stakes are high. With BN rejecting GRS, GRS signalling interest in PH, and PH now tied to BN through this new alignment, the Sabah political chessboard is more uncertain than ever.
Observers say the coming weeks will reveal whether these competing forces can put aside their rivalries or whether the state is heading toward another round of fractured multi-cornered fights.
For now, the declaration has been made. But as every political player in Sabah knows — the real battle is only just beginning. - May 9, 2025
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