Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Lee Kuok Tiung said while Umno used to dominate Sabah, the state’s political landscape was vastly different then, with fewer local parties in contention.
He pointed out that several parties have emerged in Sabah after multiple leaders broke away from Umno, namely Shafie Apdal’s Warisan, Hajiji Noor’s Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and even Bersatu’s Sabah chapter, led by former Umno man Ronald Kiandee.
“There was no Warisan, GRS or even Sabah Bersatu in the past, and some of Sabah Umno’s other past leaders are with different parties today.
“The political landscape and political set-up at that time was very different from the current scenario. So, wouldn’t it be fair to say that Sabah Umno is not as it was before?” he told FMT.
Lee also said Warisan, which intends to go solo in the upcoming state election, posed a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur.
“Warisan still carries a strong local branding compared with Umno, which carries ‘federal baggage’. Warisan also appeals across the races more effectively than Umno.
“Although GRS currently holds the administrative power, any erosion of support (by way of multi-cornered contests), especially in mixed or urban seats, could benefit Warisan,” he said.
While Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan have agreed to an alliance for the state election, talks are ongoing to rope GRS into the pact. Nonetheless, Sabah BN and GRS leaders have continued to trade barbs.
On Wednesday, Bung said leaders of Sabah-based parties have failed to unite Sabahans despite constantly pushing sentiments that they were local parties.
The Sabah Umno chief said he appreciated the “local struggle” spirit, but the narrative that only local parties could defend Sabah was a broken record, specifically training his guns on GRS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan.
Bung said only national coalitions like BN could bring major change, ensure long-term stability and defending Sabah’s right through federal channels.
Lee warned Bung that undermining local party sentiments risked alienating voters, especially with more and more of them seeing local representation in the state assembly as crucial.
“Maybe he should slow down or lie low a little because what goes around comes around. Wouldn’t it be a laughing stock if, in the 17th state election, Sabah Umno suddenly has to work with a local party?
“Some leaders need to move beyond the belief that they alone hold all the answers, and refrain from launching personal attacks against those with differing views. It’s time they set aside their arrogance.”
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara agreed that it would be unwise to play down local party sentiments, which he noted was “very, very high”, though he believed Umno was still a force to be reckoned with in Sabah.
Azmi said Umno’s awareness of local party sentiments was evidenced by its federal leadership pushing the narrative that Sabah Umno had autonomy to make decisions, even on electoral pacts.
However, he said, the federal BN leadership was making the final calls to unite the warring factions within Sabah Umno aligned with Bung, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak.
Azmi also argued that BN and PH had the upper hand over local parties at the polls because of their access to federal power and resources.