Let Sabah Political Parties Rule State
Right now, ever since the then opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has taken over the state government from the currently defunct Parti Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah (Berjaya), a major Barisan Nasional (BN) component party in Sabah, many political parties from peninsular, particularly from the BN side are flowing in large number into the state trying to take up some positions in the local political arena.
BN component parties such as Umno, MCA, Gerakan and PPP are making their presence felt within the local community there, thus also creating a messy competition amongst local based BN component parties, like Parrti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Dusun Murut Organization (UPKO).
Asides from that the Opposition side is also full house. After PBS returned to the BN fold, the DAP, though a peninsular-based opposition party was the only opposition party with a stronger presence in the state and had also managed to blend into the local communities decades ago. PKR from peninsular is still new in the state, although it had managed to penetrate into many Bumiputra constituencies. The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), a former BN component party who had since left the coalition due to many indifferences with the Sabah Umno and the illegal immigrants scandal has yet to make it as an effective opposition. It has contested in one by-election but fail to grab that seat, while it has a few existing seats as the result of its previous affiliation in the BN coalition.
The State Reform Party (STAR), a Sarawak-based opposition party is making its political debut in Sabah by having its wings spread into the state with the new North Borneo Agenda, but has yet to prove its worth in any elections.Its party machinery is already intensifying around the state citing the importance of "Sabah for the Sabah People". Anyway, STAR would still need the election to prove their campaign effectiveness.
Well, as we could all see, both BN and Pakatan side are overcrowded. Both the government and opposition coalitions are also troubled with infighting, where component parties of each side are jostling for seats to contest.
Then, what about the Sabah-based Opposition parties? Yes, particularly the SAPP and STAR are feeling the heat of being squeezed by all those peninsular-based political parties as well (from both BN and Pakatan) and both SAPP and STAR are now asking these non-Sabah parties to leave the state alone and let the state-based political parties to compete among themselves in the state elections.
Looking at the currently exposed on the previously BN-sponsored Project IC which involved the conversion of mass number of illegal immigrants to become Malaysian citizens, the Opposition parties may have the chance to wrest power from the currently tainted BN state government, but given to the fact that state now has been overcrowded with both peninsular and state based political parties (BN, Pakatan and State Oppositions), it looks like, there is possibility that a hung state legislative assembly in Sabah might take place after the state elections.
If such scenario happens (hung state legislative assembly - with no political parties having the simple majority to rule), political instability will happen in Sabah, thus not benefiting the people in the state.
The only one solution here is, some sacrifices will have to be made and agreed upon if both Pakatan and the Sabah-based Oppositions ultimate aims are to toppled the much scandalized BN state government come next state elections. Pakatan leaders must understand that the Sabah-based Opposition parties ought to be given their space to contest too, as they are purely local and may gave some political impact.
In fact, we believe, if SAPP and STAR were to be given the opportunity to fight the state BN face to face, both of these two Opposition parties are able to make an impact in terms of a united voters' choice. In this case, we urge Pakatan (DAP and PKR) to continue their talks with SAPP and STAR in order to avoid any three to four corner fights of which would further benefit the state BN.
The Sabah state BN component parties are already fighting among themselves. Sabah Umno is trying their level best to ensure that the Kadazan Dusun Muruts (KDM) leaders in the BN are not united in as one and continue in their separate entities (PBS, UPKO, PBRS), while the Sabah Chinese BN leaders would keep competing among themselves (in LDP, Gerakan, MCA). This is simply Sabah Umno's divide and rule tactic in order to continue its dominance in the BN and to act as a "taiko" within the coalition.
So, what the Opposition side would have to do now is, to sit down and talk to the highest level with a spirit of give and take for the sake of the people of Sabah. If the Oppositions (Pakatan and Sabah oppositions) are sincere in wanting to give a Change to the Sabahans, then set aside whatever it is no good for the people and work for the common goal of the Opposition to wrest the state from the state BN come next state elections.
Remember, put the importance of the people there above self or party interests.
BN component parties such as Umno, MCA, Gerakan and PPP are making their presence felt within the local community there, thus also creating a messy competition amongst local based BN component parties, like Parrti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Dusun Murut Organization (UPKO).
Asides from that the Opposition side is also full house. After PBS returned to the BN fold, the DAP, though a peninsular-based opposition party was the only opposition party with a stronger presence in the state and had also managed to blend into the local communities decades ago. PKR from peninsular is still new in the state, although it had managed to penetrate into many Bumiputra constituencies. The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), a former BN component party who had since left the coalition due to many indifferences with the Sabah Umno and the illegal immigrants scandal has yet to make it as an effective opposition. It has contested in one by-election but fail to grab that seat, while it has a few existing seats as the result of its previous affiliation in the BN coalition.
The State Reform Party (STAR), a Sarawak-based opposition party is making its political debut in Sabah by having its wings spread into the state with the new North Borneo Agenda, but has yet to prove its worth in any elections.Its party machinery is already intensifying around the state citing the importance of "Sabah for the Sabah People". Anyway, STAR would still need the election to prove their campaign effectiveness.
Well, as we could all see, both BN and Pakatan side are overcrowded. Both the government and opposition coalitions are also troubled with infighting, where component parties of each side are jostling for seats to contest.
Then, what about the Sabah-based Opposition parties? Yes, particularly the SAPP and STAR are feeling the heat of being squeezed by all those peninsular-based political parties as well (from both BN and Pakatan) and both SAPP and STAR are now asking these non-Sabah parties to leave the state alone and let the state-based political parties to compete among themselves in the state elections.
Looking at the currently exposed on the previously BN-sponsored Project IC which involved the conversion of mass number of illegal immigrants to become Malaysian citizens, the Opposition parties may have the chance to wrest power from the currently tainted BN state government, but given to the fact that state now has been overcrowded with both peninsular and state based political parties (BN, Pakatan and State Oppositions), it looks like, there is possibility that a hung state legislative assembly in Sabah might take place after the state elections.
If such scenario happens (hung state legislative assembly - with no political parties having the simple majority to rule), political instability will happen in Sabah, thus not benefiting the people in the state.
The only one solution here is, some sacrifices will have to be made and agreed upon if both Pakatan and the Sabah-based Oppositions ultimate aims are to toppled the much scandalized BN state government come next state elections. Pakatan leaders must understand that the Sabah-based Opposition parties ought to be given their space to contest too, as they are purely local and may gave some political impact.
In fact, we believe, if SAPP and STAR were to be given the opportunity to fight the state BN face to face, both of these two Opposition parties are able to make an impact in terms of a united voters' choice. In this case, we urge Pakatan (DAP and PKR) to continue their talks with SAPP and STAR in order to avoid any three to four corner fights of which would further benefit the state BN.
The Sabah state BN component parties are already fighting among themselves. Sabah Umno is trying their level best to ensure that the Kadazan Dusun Muruts (KDM) leaders in the BN are not united in as one and continue in their separate entities (PBS, UPKO, PBRS), while the Sabah Chinese BN leaders would keep competing among themselves (in LDP, Gerakan, MCA). This is simply Sabah Umno's divide and rule tactic in order to continue its dominance in the BN and to act as a "taiko" within the coalition.
So, what the Opposition side would have to do now is, to sit down and talk to the highest level with a spirit of give and take for the sake of the people of Sabah. If the Oppositions (Pakatan and Sabah oppositions) are sincere in wanting to give a Change to the Sabahans, then set aside whatever it is no good for the people and work for the common goal of the Opposition to wrest the state from the state BN come next state elections.
Remember, put the importance of the people there above self or party interests.
