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IT is worth remembering that during the formation of Malaysia, both first premier the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and his deputy late Tun Razak assured Sabahans and Sarawakians that peninsula-based parties will stay out so long as local parties subscribing to the Alliance rule both the States. Umno's decision to break the "ice" by first setting foot on Sabah via Labuan was due to the colossal blunder by PBS President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan in pulling out of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition on the eve of the 1990 general election.

While some say the withdrawal of PBS as a BN component way back in 1990 and downfall within four years was a "blessing in disguise" others see it as a "political curse". Initially, former Usno members formed the majority supporters of Sabah Umno and certain provisions of the party's constitution were amended to make way for the eligibility of other Sabah ethnic groups apart from Malays, to be accepted as members such as the Sino KDM and even Kadazandusun-Muruts who are Christians even though Umno's struggle is for the enhancement of Islam, among others.

Sabah's political scenario would not be in a mess from the sensible views of several observers had PBS stayed put in the BN at that particular moment.

It has always been the case that sometimes our leaders make questionable decisions that leave a permanent scar on the people. Pairin's place in the history books is assured, though an inglorious one on that particular matter.

No doubt Umno has brought tremendous development to the State especially under the current leadership of CM Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

Puzzling questions still linger and are frequently posed by several observers mostly from the opposition.

How successful has Umno been in administering the State since taking over in 1994 when a couple of winning candidates from PBS switched camps in favour of BN? Did Umno manage to eradicate:

a) The poverty level of 33 per cent in 1994 to Zero by year 2000 as envisaged in its One Election Manifesto which focused specifically on the Sabah Baru Plan then?,

b) Minimise corruption; and

c) Solve the longstanding problems of Filipino and Indonesian Illegal Immigrants .

It is undeniable that the current Umno-led BN State Government had sought an effective formula to items a) and b) with encouraging results, but has yet to achieve desired results for item (c).

Lately, all the BN parties in Sabah with the exception of MIC raised their hands in favour of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be set up in the State.

There have been accusations of Indian and Pakistani nationals in the State also benefitting from "Project IC." Some may be MIC members.

The opposition also is in support of the establishment of RCI in Sabah.

CM Datuk Seri Musa was quoted as saying in the media that the opposition parties were intent on seeking political mileage from the issue .

When he (Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) was the Deputy Prime Minister ... what did he do ?

Now when he is in the opposition (he is) making all kinds of promises. Such tactics were normal whenever a general election was approaching," Musa had said.

Many of our current opposition leaders were in the government before.

The people still remember that when these politicians were in government, it was not easy for the common people to meet them. Neither did they have time to spare for their own supporters.

Sabah is never short of failed YBs trying to make a political comeback.

No political party in Sabah that had the opportunity to govern the State had ever been successful in making a political comeback to lead the State.

It is noted that some of these politicians appeared to have changed their attitudes from being egoistic, arrogant and of high pride while in power to gentle and cordial behaviour after being voted out of power.

Speculation is rife now that the dissolution of the current parliament will take place any time although its term will only end on April 24 2013.

Realistically, it would be an uphill task for the opposition under the current Umno-led State Government.

The RM4.05 billion of the State's 2012 budget unveiled by CM Datuk Seri Musa recently was lauded by many sectors, giving positive impression that his inspiring leadership has been instrumental in placing Sabah among the best financially managed states tagged with the triple A rating in the country.

The practice of selecting political candidates by their party chiefs without giving due consideration to their scholastic achievement has become a thing of the past nowadays as our nation enters the advanced phase globalisation.

The fielding of candidates with low or meagre academic backgrounds to contest in any election has become a liability.

Politics is a science of government. Hence, someone keen to embark in this specific field must be a product of the learned world with good general knowledge relevant to modern politics, keeping abreast and updated on current affairs that take place domestically, regionally and globally.

Opposition PKR stressed the significance of fielding qualified candidates as well.

Party President Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah wan Ismail said in her policy speech at its eighth national congress recently in Johor Baru: "The party leadership has taken note of feedback that some of the candidates in the last election lacked qualification, were lame during Parliament and State Assembly sittings and had not served their constituents dutifully".

Candidates with recognised qualifications augur well with the demands of today's politics.

Other aspects that need to be considered include the backgrounds of their families, their level of exposure and past contributions to the local communities, the nature of their attitudes and personalities, etc.

Are they the outgoing type, cordial, approachable or ready to meet or mingle with every strata of society?

If the checklist is affirmative, theoretically the prospective candidates will stand better chance of winning if they are chosen.

At the closure of the recent Umno General Assembly, Party President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told the media that Umno is expected to field many new candidates to show that the party is willing to undertake changes, apart from strengthening the party.

"Probably this time the line-up of new faces may be bigger than in the last general election in terms of new faces and would hold to the concept of a winnable candidate". (The Daily Express Dec 4th 2011)

Universiti Teknologi Mara Associate Prof. Shahrudin Badarudin foresees "a strong possibility" of an increase in the number of new faces, thus providing a large back-up leaders to the existing one "Parachute candidates", who are not members of any party could possibly be the solution to seats that are demanded by several component members.

The choice of Tun Daim Zainuddin (former Finance Minister) was made a parachute candidate during Mahathir 's Era is a case in point.

It is an open secret that many Umno old faces, incumbents so do others in the component, are still willing to be renominated as candidates in the coming polls. Not because of their vested commitment or duty they will be bound to execute once selected, but perhaps more on the perks that a YBs would benefit for a period of five years. Some joke that "they want to be there forever until they die".

The Umno assembly had mandated the party's leadership on the choice of new faces or suitable candidates, who he thinks fit meeting the criteria as winnable candidates to replace the incumbents in the coming poll.

Hence, there will be no big astonishment in the event that some disappointed old faces would bid farewell or be making an exit and pursue their political agenda with other parties outside the BN fold if not renominated.

This is a common tendency flowing in the veins of many of our local politicians and not aliens in our political history.

Umno which has a lot of potential candidates will not regret losing such supporters who breached their pledge of loyalty made during the recent party assembly.

Their act of betrayal runs counter to the party 's President words of wisdom to Umno members "Put Party interest first".

In Sabah, there is talk of some Umno leaders intending to quit the party for this sole reason and to lead a newly-registered political organisation.

The question is - would they be able to garner the support of the people who know quite well the chronologies of their political backgrounds?

Only time will tell as no one could prevent them from doing so as Malaysia is a democratic country.

In the words of Maurice Barres 'The politician is an acrobat he keeps his balance by saying the opposite of what he does'.