LOW voter turnout in several former DAP strongholds reflects a “silent protest” by Chinese voters who are increasingly uncertain about which political coalition can best protect Sabah’s rights, according to Academy Nusantara senior analyst Dr Azmi Hassan.
Azmi said the trend indicates a growing perception that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is seen as more reliable in defending state interests—particularly issues tied to the 40% revenue entitlement and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)—even though many Chinese voters remain reluctant to openly support the coalition.
“GRS is perceived as better at safeguarding Sabah’s rights, just as Chinese Sabahans look for a party that can protect their own interests,” he said.
“On matters such as the 40% royalty and MA63, these are all rights belonging to Sabah.”
Despite expressing dissatisfaction with Pakatan Harapan components, especially PKR and DAP, Chinese voters did not shift their support en masse to GRS or other parties, Azmi noted.
Instead, many opted to stay home on polling day.
In constituencies previously dominated by DAP, turnout figures were significantly lower than usual, which Azmi interprets as a deliberate signal of discontent.
“That is a form of protest. They did not vote for the parties they were expected to support by simply not coming out to vote,” he said.
“The pattern mirrors what has happened in several Chinese-majority areas in Peninsular Malaysia, where statistics clearly show similar protest behaviour.”
Azmi said Chinese voters in Sabah now find themselves at a political crossroads: unwilling to endorse GRS fully, unconvinced by Warisan, and increasingly frustrated with PKR and DAP, whom they once relied on to champion state rights.
“They hoped PKR and DAP would protect their interests, but these parties failed to meet that expectation,” he added.
It was reported last night that that DAP lost all eight seats it contested, with the biggest casualty being in Tanjung Aru, where Sabah DAP deputy chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin, who is also the deputy plantation and commodities minister, lost the seat to Warisan.
DAP, contesting under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner, was also defeated in the other constituencies it contested, including Sri Tanjong, Kapayan, Elopura, Likas, Luyang and Tanjung Papat.
In an immediate reaction, party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said he accepted responsibility for the party’s dismal performance, confirming that it lost all six seats it won in 2020.
Loke also said he respected the decision of voters and that DAP still has two Sabah representatives in Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Sandakan MP Vivian Wong.
Meanwhile, former DAP MP Charles Santiago said that the party’s heavy losses reflect a deeper national backlash among Chinese voters and should serve as a wake-up call for the party.
Santiago said the defeat was not merely a localised shift but a “full-blown verdict” from a voter base that had long formed the backbone of DAP’s support.
“When your most loyal base turns away, it’s not a warning sign anymore; it’s a verdict,” he said, adding that similar resentment is growing in Peninsular Malaysia.
“People are tired of being taken for granted and tired of a party that seems unsure of what it stands for whenever power is at stake.”
He urged DAP to return to its original strengths—people-centred policies, cost-of-living concerns, good governance, accountability and transparency—warning that the party has drifted toward political manoeuvring at the expense of public service.
Santiago also pointed to a “perception of arrogance” that he said has taken root within the party’s communication and tone.
“Voters don’t owe any party their loyalty; parties owe the people humility and hard work,” he stressed.
He said DAP’s long-standing image as a grassroots-driven party that speaks truth to power has become blurred, and that reconnecting with that identity is essential for its survival.
“Sabah’s results weren’t a fluke. They were a message,” Santiago said.
“Whether DAP listens now will determine if this is just a setback or the beginning of a nationwide slide.” – November 30, 2025
