M Santhananaban
The Sabah assembly election, with nearly 600 candidates seeking election to its 73-seat legislature, showed remarkable symbolism.
The people of Sabah have to be congratulated for the outcome.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secured 29 seats (23 from Gagasan and six from Parti Bersatu Sabah). The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) took three, while Pakatan Harapan and the Social Democratic Harmony Party (KDM) bagged one each. Five independents also won. Together, they have enough seats to formed a new GRS-led government in Sabah.
Barisan Nasional (six seats – five from Umno and one from the United Sabah People’s Party or PBRS) is likely to be left out, even though it is part of the federal ruling alliance. The Homeland Solidarity Party (Star) with two seats is not part of the new government either.
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On the other side, Warisan won 25 and Perikatan Nasional, one (through Pas).
The five independents who won seats reflect the scepticism that some people have over the skulduggery of the region’s political parties and, to some extent, their suspect governing skills.
Sabah has delivered through this election a demonstration of strong sentiments and determination that underpins the complexities that unite and uplift the people. It also shows how people in Sabah have been previously undermined, underserved and underrepresented.
Peninsula politics struggles
It was not a great outing for PH. PKR lost three previously held seats. Its solitary seat was symbolic of the strained relationship between PKR and Sabah, echoing the unequal partnership that BN had previously established. PKR’s poor showing also demonstrated powerfully the insurmountable struggle that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s party is up against in Sabah.
The DAP’s wipeout was significant. It was a clear case of attempting to continue to superimpose the peninsula’s urban political approach on Sabah – which had worked for decades. The DAP has been shown the door and should heed that signal.
This election also demonstrated that all peninsula-based political parties are welcomed only by an unrepresentative select few without strong grassroots enthusiasm.
Peninsula-based parties must understand that both Sabah and Sarawak have unmatched characteristics of deep acceptance and mutual understanding that had previously prevailed in the peninsula. Back then, fellowship and friendship among the people transcended ethnicity, religious beliefs and everything else. This was evident in our schools, workplaces and social settings.
But Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965, unable to fit into the communal politics that dominated the peninsula.
The peninsula did enjoy an advantage and moral high ground in both Sabah and Sarawak in the decade immediately after the formation of Malaysia. It had a relatively well-regarded education system and some high-minded leaders who worked for national unity and universal values. Moreover, the first three prime ministers did not seek to alter the demographics of Sabah.
In recent years, however, we had several tainted prime ministers, and one of them has been tried and imprisoned. The peninsula doesn’t have the moral high ground it once so cherished and celebrated.
Any leader of Sabah or Sarawak is as good as anyone the peninsula can produce. We have to recognise equality of citizenship.
Peninsula leaders should allow Sabah and Sarawak to govern themselves according to their own priorities and values. If these two territories can offer an outstanding leader to lead Malaysia, we should welcome and warmly embrace such a leader.
A clear message
First Singapore, then Sarawak and now, six decades later, Sabah has delivered the same message.
And what is that message? The divisiveness and hierarchical pyramidal system that BN and now PN seem to apply or favour in the peninsula is not the most suitable mechanism to bring out Malaysian unity, merit, mutual trust and momentum towards a shared bright future.
Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former Malaysian ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
