PETALING JAYA: An analyst has warned that the plan by Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) to contest only 38 seats and form a coalition with other parties after the state election could backfire.
Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said voters might prefer strong and stable coalitions, or parties that do not depend on post-election deals.
He said BN risked losing the trust of voters if it did not demonstrate its full strength before the election, particularly compared to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah which is seen as a strong local coalition and might collaborate with Pakatan Harapan.
“Voters might see this as a sign of weakness and instability,” said Bilcher.
He was responding to FMT’s report yesterday that Sabah BN was likely to contest 38 out of 73 state assembly seats, with the possibility of forming a new coalition only after the polls.
Sources told FMT that BN aims to secure at least 27 seats and then partner with other parties to secure a simple majority of 37 seats to form the state government. If its strategy succeeds, it would strengthen BN’s claim to the chief minister’s post.
Bilcher said that infighting in Sabah Umno, apparently between the supporters of its chief, Bung Moktar Radin, and his deputy, Rahman Dahlan, could also weaken the party, making its 27-seat target overly ambitious.
Romzi Ationg, also of UMS, questioned BN’s odds, saying local sentiment was not in Umno’s favour.
However, he said Umno could gain some extra seats if it effectively addressed voter concerns.
“Frequent water and electricity disruptions have been a major issue under the administration of Hajiji (Noor),” he said.
On speculation that MCA, which contested four seats in the last state election, would not be given any this time around, Romzi said the party was expected to accept this.
“It doesn’t make sense for MCA to contest in Sabah as it lacks a strong grassroots presence there,” he said, adding that BN’s representation would likely be limited to Umno and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).
However, Bilcher warned that sidelining MCA could upset its grassroots members and lead to internal sabotage.
“That said, if Sabah Umno and PBRS handle this issue carefully and ensure unwavering support from all BN components, the negative impact can be minimised,” he said.
