KOTA KINABALU – The fragile partnership between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) remains to be seen following last night’s political drama.
This comes after BN and Warisan had allegedly tried to usurp GRS but failed.
However, the episode may also reveal BN’s true political intentions, despite its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin dismissing such talk.
GRS and BN partnered to form the Sabah government after winning seats in the state election in 2020.
The partnership between the two has always been questioned, following the rift between Bersatu and Umno in the peninsula, even before the 15th general election.
However, yesterday’s events show not all is friendly between the two ruling parties in the state after all.
The Vibes was made to understand that 15 of 17 BN assemblymen were supportive of the tie-up with Warisan’s 20 assemblymen.
The pact apparently failed to obtain the formidable numbers needed to form a new government against 29 GRS assemblymen, including four nominated assemblymen from the party.
The Warisan-BN pact, if it eventually happens, still needs support from seven Pakatan Harapan assemblymen.
However, obtaining such support will leave Sabah with a hung state assembly, with the two BN assemblymen against Warisan likely to support GRS.
Sabah has 73 state seats, plus seven appointed assemblymen – four from GRS, two from Umno, and one from PAS.
The state has two independent assemblymen, two from KDM, and one each from Perikatan Nasional, Harapan Rakyat Sabah, and Bersatu respectively.
GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor now may have to relook at the coalition’s cooperation with BN.
Sources have also told The Vibes that Hajiji is considering a reshuffle of the state cabinet, in which BN leaders have ministerial positions.
Although the political crisis in Sabah appears to have fizzled, the political landscape in Sabah will remain unpredictable. – The Vibes, January 6, 2023
