KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Harapan’s campaign for the 17th Sabah Election, which centres on state rights, 40% revenue and bread-and-butter issues, has been rocked by claims of corruption involving the Prime Minister’s ex-aide.
Controversial businessman Albert Tei threw a spanner in the works during the make-or-break 48-hour final stretch of the campaign by alleging that he had prior dealings with Shamsul Iskandar Ikin, relating to the Sabah polls.
Shamsul Iskandar has since resigned and lodged a police report against Tei, accusing him of defamation.
“These last 48 hours are most critical, as some parties can put themselves in a position to deliver a final blow to their rivals. It could make or break them,” observed political analyst Associate Prof Lee Kuok Tiung.
“In this era of social media, anything can go viral easily,” said Lee, who is expecting fierce fights in Darau, Usukan, Sugut and the urban state seats of Api-Api, Likas, Karamunting, Tanjong Papat and Elopura.
“Last-minute missteps, internal sabotage, or viral negative narratives on social media can severely damage a campaign,” said Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman assistant professor Liew Wui Chern.
“The ‘Shamsul scandal’ is a negative narrative that could affect Pakatan in urban constituencies,” he said.
Tei is already known for having made allegations about a bribery scandal involving the issuance of mining prospecting licences against 14 GRS assemblymen, including five ministers in the Hajiji government.
The charges against Tei and two assemblymen, including a state assistant minister, stem from the alleged bribery.
The big boys are also coming into the final stretch with heavy armoury.
Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is in town to boost campaigns for candidates in Tawau and Sandakan. The Prime Minister is also expected to head into Kota Kinabalu today in a packed schedule.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), led by incumbent Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and his rivals – Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin – are also on the ground campaigning across the state.
Pakatan has separate electoral deals with both GRS and Barisan.
Liew said multiple-cornered seats are especially vulnerable to sudden swings, because a small 3%-5% change in turnout rates among specific ethnic groups can dramatically change the results.
“Urban and mixed seats may shift if younger voters turn out in higher numbers, while rural seats can swing after last-minute local negotiations or clan dynamics.
“Although the broad trend still favours GRS and Pakatan Harapan, a number of seats remain volatile,” he said.
Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan echoed his views, saying that developments in the peninsula will determine the political tide in the final 48 hours of campaigns.
“A lot is happening in the peninsula, and that will determine voters’ perception,” he said. “It will be whether voters want a state government that has a cordial relationship with Putrajaya or not.”
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Dr Romzi Ationg said parties would focus on issues such as employment, bread-and-butter issues, welfare and leadership in the push to the finish line.
The parties competing in the Kadazandusun, Muru and Rungus heartlands are experiencing intense rivalry. Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, is in close competition with Upko, headed by Datuk Ewon Benedick, and Parti KDM, led by acting president Priscilla Peters.
Additionally, GRS’ Parti Bersatu Sabah, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, is also part of this tightly contested race.
Sabah DAP is also in an uphill battle to woo Chinese support before the voters decide on Saturday.
