Chinese to 'take the boat' in Sabah polls?

THERE is a rather unsettled mood among the Chinese in Sabah.

Almost everywhere, the signs are that the Chinese voters in Sabah are at some sort of political crossroads.

Hakka is the dominant dialect of the Chinese in the state and so many of them say "chor saun," which means "take the boat," when asked about where their votes will go on Nov 29.

The boat they are referring to is, of course, the ship featured in the Parti Warisan logo which features a pair of hands representing the east and west coasts united in one ship.

A Kota Kinabalu-based lawyer said "chor saun" has become the local slang for them.

Some say it with a sheepish grin, others in a confident tone.

Moreover, DAP and the other peninsula-based political parties, have been grappling with a palpable anti-Malaya sentiment.

A DAP candidate, on being confronted as a party from Malaya, retorted: "I am also a Sabahan".

Another candidate had to promise to correct the shortcomings of his predecessor whom voters likened to "submarine" because he was rarely seen.

A minister who offered to adopt Tawau if DAP won in the Sri Tanjong seat was told: "We are not orphans".

All this is troubling for DAP which is contesting eight seats with significant Chinese voters who do not have the same devotion to the party as their counterparts across the South China Sea.

State DAP chairman Phoong Jin Zhe, also known as Ginger Phoong, is asking the Chinese electorate to deliver all eight seats to the party so that DAP can ask for two state minister posts.

But can he stop the Chinese from boarding the Warisan ship and continue to ride the DAP rocket?

Peninsula-based parties have struggled to present a narrative that truly reflects how Sabahans feel about state rights and their stand on the High Court judgement on Sabah rights or what is known as the "40 points" has not gone down well on the Sabah intelligentsia.

"There is no clarity in messaging coming out. It is like a mixed bowl of salad. I would have expected a more focused campaign because this is the most anticipated election.

"I am not feeling the wave though. You see more people wearing party attire at ceramah than ordinary folk. I think voters are watching everything from digital devices," said a prominent Umno politician from the state.

So much has happened in the past few years that have triggered anger, confusion and despair. Voters feel that no matter who they vote for, nothing really changes.

They want solutions to issues ranging from corruption to basic needs like water and power supply and decent roads that have affected the state.

State identity or the Sabah for Sabahans sentiment is at its most intense in years although it resonates most among the Kadazandusun community.

"The Kadazandusun have been waiting so long for this, for the stars to align. There is also a mood for change among young voters that is powered by social media," said the above Umno politician.

Datuk Hajiji Noor, the caretaker Chief Minister and the head of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), has unveiled an impressive manifesto to put Sabah first and take it in the direction of prosperity and unity.

He is telling voters that Sabah has to work with Putrajaya in order to achieve its dreams.

Can he convince Sabahans that his team which includes several personalities implicated in the mining scandal are up to the task?

Meanwhile, Parti Warisan’s slogan of "Selamatkan Sabah" (save Sabah) may inspire Sabahans but people over in the peninsula are rolling their eyes given their own experience with Pakatan Harapan’s "Selamatkan Malaysia" promises.

This is the first major election where social media is playing a massive role.

Warisan had started its social media campaign as early as last year and their propaganda has probably taken root.

Sabah Umno boss, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar, who has been seen dancing and making fiery speeches, thinks the party can win 20 seats.

His party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would be thankful to get between 12 to 14 seats. However, some have predicted the party winning only six seats.

PKR started off on a confident note, labelled as the Prime Minister’s party. But the fact that it had to recruit candidates from Umno and GRS portrayed it as the weak link that is without its own talent.

There were high hopes for its Merotai candidate Datuk Ruji Ubi, a senior federal civil servant who was also being wooed by Umno. But high-flying civil servants are not natural politicians especially in a volatile political landscape.

Ruji was featured in a campaign video, name-dropping all the ministers he had served under. Did he actually think that would win him votes in this far-flung corner of Sabah?

However, PKR should be able to retain Api Api in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, Inanam and Sindumin.

A week into the campaign, there are complaints from the PKR side that Umno is not helping them with campaign machinery. They may be friends in Putrajaya, but it is every man for himself in Sabah.

"I am tempted to think there is some La-La Land syndrome going on. So many candidates in every seat, it’s like adding salsa and limbo rock into what ought to be a normal election race.

"The votes will be splintered across the board. It suggests that people have lost faith in established parties but at the end of the day, the ones with the most resources will pull through," said the PKR insider.

The campaign in Sabah is reminiscent of what Barisan Nasional went through in the 2018 general election when everything that Barisan leaders said or did was criticised and ridiculed.

It is difficult to get your message across when the wind is not with you, when people are no longer listening and when many have made up their minds.

The sweetest of words, rivers of money and promises to deliver the moon and the stars will be blown away when this kind of wind is blowing.

Whichever party or coalition succeeds in cobbling together a government after election day will not have an easy ride given the mountain of issues crying out to be solved and whoever becomes the chief minister will find himself wearing the proverbial crown of thorns.