KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR's from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) puts increased pressure on its former coalition partner Parti Bersatu Sabah's (PBS) bid to consolidate non-Muslim native support, says a political analyst.
Sabah UiTM senior lecturer Tony Paridi Bagang noted that the two parties, which had worked together under a memorandum of understanding, are now likely to compete against each other in the upcoming state election.
"This development (Sabah STAR's exit) could have significant implications for its MOU with PBS.
"If PBS chooses to remain within GRS, the likelihood of both PBS and Sabah STAR (clashing) in the same constituencies becomes very high, which would inevitably split the votes," he said on Friday (Oct 3).
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He said this would then leave PBS at "a distinct disadvantage."
"Not only would it face competition from other parties such as Parti KDM, Barisan Nasional, and the emerging 'Black Wave' (independent) movement, it would also find itself directly challenged by its former ally now turned rival," he said.
Bagang added that the overlapping contest would dilute PBS’s voter base, making it even more difficult to consolidate support and secure additional seats.
In his view, Sabah STAR's stance – that it left the coalition because it wanted local parties to take the lead without giving up too many seats to national-based Pakatan Harapan – could win it more support from native communities.
"Grassroots sharing similar sentiments with Sabah STAR could bring in the votes in its favour," he added.
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Bagang also believes that local-based Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), which also quit GRS with Sabah STAR, could capitalise on the move to pull support from the Chinese community away from national party DAP.
Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, and SAPP, led by former chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, pulled out of GRS on Wednesday (Oct 1) over their objection to the local coalition giving up too many seats to Pakatan under an electoral pact.
However, GRS secretary-general Datuk Masidi Manjun said the two parties automatically lost their coalition membership as they wanted to contest using their own logo against Pakatan candidates in the coming election.
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The fallout came during the eight-party ruling coalition presidents' council meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Wednesday night.
Sabah STAR and SAPP, together with Hajiji's Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah and PBS, were anchor parties of GRS when it was registered three years ago.
Other parties admitted later are Usno, led by Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Datuk Chin Su Phin; and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, under president Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah.
Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) led by Tan Sri Anifah Aman joined the pact last.
