KOTA KINABALU: One of the most closely watched fronts in the Sabah election is how Chinese voters will sway in a series of high-stakes urban contests, where stiff competition from both local-based parties and rivals emerge.
It is not going to be a walk in the park for Pakatan Harapan’s DAP as Sabah Barisan Nasional together with Warisan, Parti KDM, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Sabah STAR are gunning for Chinese support.
Breathing down Pakatan’s neck is Warisan, which has doubled down on its “locals for local” narrative – a message that resonates among Chinese voters frustrated by recurring water cuts, electricity instability, and infrastructure bottlenecks.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman assistant professor and policy analyst Liew Wui Chern said Chinese-majority seats matter because they are “compact, high-turnout and extremely swingable”.
Also, they can be pivotal in a fragmented assembly.
“Winning a bloc of Chinese seats enables any party – Pakatan, GRS, Warisan, or even STAR on the margins – to strengthen coalition leverage and potentially become kingmaker,” he said yesterday.
While Warisan is presenting itself as the Sabah-based alternative, another local party – Sabah STAR – is making inroads in mixed Chinese constituencies such as Kapayan, Api-Api, Tanjung Aru and Inanam, where voters have been vocal about water, electricity and infrastructure frustrations.
In Kapayan, Warisan’s Chin Tek Ming is taking on Pakatan incumbent Jenny Lasimbang.
He described it as “a critical turning point for the state’s future direction”.
In Sandakan, Pakatan faces a challenge from defectors.
Incumbent Calvin Chong, now with Warisan, is being challenged by Sandakan MP Vivian Wong.
In Tanjong Papat, incumbent Datuk Frankie Poon, who joined Parti KDM just before nomination day, will face DAP newcomer Tang Szu Ching and Warisan’s Alex Thien.
In another mixed constituency, Barisan’s Datuk Chin Kim Hiung is taking on incumbent Datuk George Hiew – who switched from Warisan to GRS and then joined PKR – in a five-cornered contest for Karamunting.
In Tawau’s Sri Tanjong, incumbent Justin Wong, now with Warisan, is being challenged by DAP’s Philip Yap.
Meanwhile, Barisan is also making a push in the northern Chinese stronghold of Tanjong Kapor, where Kevin Lee faces GRS’ Datuk Ben Chong in an 11-cornered fight.
MCA secretary-general and Sabah election director Datuk Chong Sin Woon said that despite the multi-way contests, voters are prioritising stability and grounded leadership.
“They don’t want big slogans – they want someone who understands their needs.
“With our track record and strong machinery, we believe we have what it takes to offer voters a credible and dependable choice,” he said.
Sensing the shifting mood, Liew said Sabah DAP has also restrategised from its usual approach.
This is apparent when its state chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe has been redeployed from the comparatively safe Luyang seat to the battleground of Likas, which, like Luyang, has a 65% Chinese electorate.
Also, Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin has been fielded at the competitive Chinese-mixed seat of Tanjung Aru in a nine-cornered fight involving Warisan vice-president Datuk Junz Wong, Sabah STAR’s Hiew Choon Yu and others.
“DAP often redeploys heavyweights when it wants to signal seriousness and punch above its weight in competitive seats.
“If it were purely defensive, the bosses wouldn’t send Phoong from safe Luyang to Likas, or Chan into a difficult seat like Tanjung Aru,” said Liew.
He said the Chinese-heartland contests reflect three clear trends reshaping Sabah politics – rising localism, increasing fragmentation, and voters placing more weight on everyday issues.
