By Sabah Media reader via email
THE recent announcement from West Malaysia by Anwar Ibrahim and Zahid Hamidi regarding the BN-PH unity seems to be falling on deaf ears in Sabah.
If PM Anwar Ibrahim doesn’t meet political allies GRS in Sabah at the table, the unity government would be shaping up to be more of a Unity federal government in name only.
Fueled by Sarawak’s bitter fued with state oil & gas operator Petronas, the comments of GPS breaking away as allies from Peninsula have given rise to similar thoughts in Sabah’s voting population.
It is no secret, GRS and UMNO hold a fierce contempt for one another, started with the public failed coup d’etat by UMNO (In collaboration with Warisan) on the 6th January 2023, who threatened to overturn the state of Sabah. The failed Coup D’etat highlighted the fragility of not just Sabah’s determination for a Sabahan based leadership, but also highlighted UMNO’s diminishing appeal to the Sabahan voters, who view the former state government as having deliberate and subservient ties to Malayan Supremecy.
The Sabah government in 2025 today operates on a loose fit coalition of parties, mainly led by GRS, DAP, PKR and UMNO state loyalists.
Given the hot discussion of Sabah pending election in 2025 and the BN-PH decision, commentators online ignited a firestorm of debate against any inferance that central leadership from Federal may have regarding the explicit rights to determine the future for Sabahans.
Political analysts have commented the same sentiment as many of the online commentators, an overwhelming rejection of UMNO politics in Sabah, and at best, an acceptance of a GRS-PH placement.
Unless PM Anwar Ibrahim can reach an agreement with his partners in Sabah and Sarawak, the Sabah election will be the true litmus test of the Unity government’s aspirations for true West & East Malaysian governance.
It would be reasonable to assume that the GRS government right now is holding it’s cards close to the chest, and any political collaborations will be scrutinised based on who serves Sabahan interests best. – Donny
