Strategic spot: Party flags line the roads in Putatan turning a busy stretch into a sea of colour. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star
KOTA KINABALU: After an unusually slow-paced first week of campaigning, the Sabah election is set to get going beginning today with the Super Weekend push.
The parties are expected to ramp up efforts in the crowded race, bringing back the usual “fast and furious” style of campaigns after a muted week since nomination day.
Things will also get hotter with the arrival of several national leaders, including Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who will return from his visit to three African countries.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, the incumbent Chief Minister, is taking his campaign into the complex battleground of the Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus heartland this weekend.
Hajiji, seeking a second term for his GRS-Pakatan Harapan state government, will start in Tamparuli to support his coalition’s Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate Dr Bonaventure Boniface, a new face in a 13-cornered fight.
He will then move to neighbouring Kiulu seat to support PBS’ information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is seeking a third term there.
After that, Hajiji will move north to Kudat to campaign for GRS candidates in Matunggong, among others.
GRS is facing a stiff fight in native non-Muslim seats, with former partner Sabah STAR Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Upko’s Datuk Ewon Benedick and Parti KDM led by acting president Priscella Peter all jostling for votes.
Hajiji’s key opponent, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, has held several mega ceramah in the first week and will unveil the party’s manifesto tomorrow in Penampang.
Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin will launch his coalition’s manifesto today as he ramps up his campaign.
Perikatan Nasional, led by its Sabah chief Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, launched its manifesto last night.
Some observers say that most political parties had preferred to wait until the final week to push the tempo as “peaking” too early could exhaust political resources ahead of polling day.
Others believe the general ground sentiment is quiet as voters have already made up their minds, or they are confused over the large number of contesting parties.
Some political pundits also believe parties do not want to get into too much mud-slinging as they may have to work together with rivals in case a coalition government has to be formed after a hung assembly.
There were no confrontational ceramah held over the last week, said Universiti Malaysia Sabah political analyst Prof Dr G. Anantha Raman.
He said most major parties appeared to be relying on mini ceramah while fine-tuning their strategic approaches for the later phase of the campaign.
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“The character of the campaign could shift considerably towards the end of the week, as larger political actors deploy more substantial resources to intensify their outreach,” said Prof Anantha.
“The central campaign issues continue to be long-standing concerns, such as inadequate infrastructure development, perception of corruption, claims of federal neglect, Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement (MA63), and the need for more constructive engagement with Putrajaya,” he said.
Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said the sluggish campaign could signal a change in strategy, with parties opting for social media instead of physical campaigns.
“This is a preferred choice for young voters. They don’t want to be under the sun or in the rain listening to political speeches.”
He also pointed to the weather in Sabah. It has been raining at night, making it harder for parties to hold night-time ceramah.
He said mini ceramah, walkabouts and door-to-door visits are the most effective conventional campaigning method, adding that he anticipated the overall voter turnout to be lower than 70%.
A total of 596 candidates from 23 parties in Sabah will contest next Saturday.
