Fluid frenemy

United front: Hajiji (left) with Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Unity Government National Convention last Sunday. — Bernama

I HAD a morbid thought on a recent flight from my hometown Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur. If anything happened during the two hours and 30 minutes journey across the South China Sea, one-third of the Sabah cabinet, a handful of (incumbent and former) assemblymen and MPs and a journalist (me) would perish.

It was politically surreal to board a flight filled with politicians from almost all the political divides in Sabah. It was a Saturday, and most on the flight were heading for the maiden unity government national convention at Umno’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur the following day.