KOTA KINABALU – The nationwide lockdown and state of emergency have yet to be lifted, but political parties in Sabah are already preparing for the eventuality of fresh polls when they finally are.
There are rumours making the rounds here that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will have no choice but to dissolve Parliament, as he no longer has the majority support of MPs.
Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin made the surprising revelation recently that the state’s ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is already in the midst of preparing for the 15th general election.
GRS comprises Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN), and Parti Bersatu Sabah. BN, in turn, consists of Umno, MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.
Known for his controversial remarks, Bung Moktar is also reputed to be a well-prepared man and has, on numerous occasions, told fellow components that preparations for the next election must be made after any election.
“We are in the midst of getting ready for all the candidates contesting under the GRS coalition to win the parliamentary seats in the upcoming election,” the Sabah BN chairman said.
However, he made no further indication as to when the election will be held.
Warisan members also claim that the same instruction was given to them by president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, saying that the phrase he used last month was that all party leaders should be on “standby for something big”.
Party Youth chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said the president’s words are not to be misinterpreted as a sign that Warisan is expecting the PN government to fall.
Instead, he said, Shafie is giving all party members a heads-up that an election is imminent, and therefore all divisions are to strengthen their election machineries.
However, there will be no state election any time soon for Sabah, as the state held its polls on September 26 last year. Only the 25 parliamentary seats will be up for grabs.
Party observers told The Vibes that the parliamentary election in Sabah will remain dominated by two leading coalitions – GRS and Warisan Plus.
The Warisan Plus alliance comprises Warisan, Sabah PKR, Sabah DAP, Sabah Amanah and Upko – the Sabah political outfit led by Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
Challenges will also be faced by the Warisan Plus opposition alliance as it readies for the forthcoming election.
Sabah PKR Youth information chief Razeef Rakimin predicted that an internal dispute will arise over the distribution of seats between Warisan Plus.
This is because PKR, despite the prevalent belief that it does not have strong political influence, will heed party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s wish to fight for a major number of seats.
According to Razeef, PKR will fight for more seats this time after giving in at the state election last year, on the grounds that Warisan did not win all the MP seats it contested in the 2018 general election.
“Warisan had contested in 17 parliamentary seats, but only won half of them. They have to give in so that PKR can contest in more seats.”
In the 14th general election, Sabah PKR contested in six federal seats but won three, while DAP contested in three MP seats and won all three.
“We are already on standby in all 25 parliamentary areas. So far, preparations are up to 90%,” Razeef told The Vibes.
“The prime minister will have no choice but to dissolve Parliament. He only has the support of 94 of the 222 MPs.
“They are those who had switched sides to the opposition, but there are also those who will remain on the middle ground, supporting neither PN nor Pakatan Harapan.”
He said he believes that the prime minister will coincide the election with the Sarawak polls, which are due this year.
In fact, both coalitions anticipate that fresh polls will be held in June. – The Vibes, February 16, 2021
