Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said the decisions announced recently amid the various parties’ scramble for alliances seem like they were decided by the parties’ central leaderships.
He said this is why Sabah Umno and Pakatan Harapan have both raised the issue of autonomy, and told their central leaderships that they have the right to choose their allies, given the local political realities.
“If autonomy is not given, it can create the perception that state party leaders are unable to make their own decisions and must rely on the central leadership.
“Not only will such a perception reduce the voters’ trust in the leaders and the parties, it will also increase discontent among voters who value Sabah’s rights and sovereignty.
“As such, state party leaders must be given room to determine their strategies and protect the political balance, besides raising support for national parties at the state level,” he told FMT.
On Sunday, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said his party has autonomy to decide its alliances in the state election even though Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has stated the possibility of cooperation with PH and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Bung Moktar, who has expressed his personal reluctance to work with GRS, said BN is still open to forging a coalition with other local parties ahead of the state election, expected next year.
Sabah PH also raised the matter of autonomy, with Sabah PKR information chief Razeef Rakimin reportedly saying that any discussions of cooperation with BN or other parties must be done directly with Sabah PKR, not the central leadership.
Analyst Lee Kuok Tiung said neglecting to uphold local party autonomy will erode the voters’ trust and support for their parties.
He pointed out that Sabah Umno had previously been given autonomy to work within the context of local politics, but differing opinions have made the party’s central leaders seem domineering.
“This can create the perception that (Sabah Umno’s) rights to autonomy are not being respected,” Lee, who is also from UMS, said.