KOTA KINABALU: A complex political alignment may emerge among the major coalition partners of the federal unity government for the coming Sabah election.
Political observers here feel that Sabah Pakatan Harapan will be able to work with both Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Sabah Barisan Nasional.
The anticipation is that Sabah Pakatan will agree to a seat-sharing formula with GRS led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Sabah Barisan helmed by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
However, GRS and Sabah Barisan are expected to cross swords in the soon-to-be-called 17th state polls, with observers predicting no deal between erstwhile political allies Hajiji and Bung.
Bung had pulled Sabah Barisan out of the GRS coalition in 2023 after a fallout with Hajiji.
It is learned that Bung is courting other parties like Parti Warisan led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) led by Priscella Peter, the daughter of its jailed president Datuk Peter Anthony.
But Warisan and KDM do not seem keen on any tie-up, with both publicly stating their intention to go it solo.
According to Barisan and GRS insiders, both coalitions are unlikely to strike a truce with the bitterness between Hajiji and Bung.
Political analyst Prof Dr Romzi Ationg said differing political ideologies and the demand for seats would make it difficult for electoral pacts.
If all fails, he did not rule out GRS going it on its own or with some sort of an understanding with Pakatan.
Other parties, he said, might also run on their own due to the inability to strike a balanced deal satisfactory to all.
“In fact, these parties are actually already looking into this possibility as none can work together the way they each want to, according to their needs and party requirements.
“At the end of the day, we have the Madani government at the federal level, but state wise, they can choose to still support the unity government regardless of how things turn out in Sabah,” he said.
Prof Romzi, a Universiti Malaysia Sabah politics and human development lecturer, said the sentiment of going solo was also shared by the grassroots who prefer a ‘free for all’.
Other observers who preferred anonymity said Sabah Pakatan and Sabah Barisan needed to stick together in line with the aspirations of the national unity government.
GRS component parties like Sabah STAR, SAPP and Usno prefer GRS to go solo, although Hajiji was inclined to work with Sabah Pakatan.
Warisan has decided to opt out of any pact in Sabah although it is a partner of the federal unity government.
Some predict that KDM could seal a pact with either Barisan or Warisan if they get the number and choices of seats, with the party eyeing at least 18 Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus seats.
“Everyone is caught with their own party interest for seats, and all think their candidates can win,” said another observer.
