Sabah BN on verge of victory
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN), which is facing vote-splitting multi-cornered fights, seems to be on the verge of clinching a victory, come polling day of the 14th general election (GE14), this Wednesday.
Despite the opposition’s assertions of having made inroads in the BN strongholds, local political pundits’ latest assessment showed that BN candidates are “ahead” in terms of support in most of the parliamentary and state seats at stake.
According to them, barring upsets, BN is also in a better position to secure the much sought two-thirds majority in the state legislative assembly post GE14.
Political analyst and senior lecturer of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Dr Lee Kuok Tiung said the opposition bloc of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, PKR and DAP had been the main contender for the BN during the past seven days of campaigning.
“Things could be different if it is a straight fight with BN... it could be tough for the BN,” he said.
However, in what is seen as a repeat of the 2013 election episode, the opposition is disunited, eclipsing the chance for a possible one-to-one contest or showdown between BN and a united opposition front in Sabah.
The opposition is now divided into three blocs, namely the loose electoral pact between Warisan and Pakatan Harapan (DAP, PKR), the United Sabah Alliance (USA), which is made up of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) led by Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS) led by Klias assemblyman Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS) led by Mohd Arshad Abdul Maulap, and the newly-formed alliance of Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) led by Datuk Wilfred Bumburing and Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri led by Datuk Henrynus Amin.
Lee said the lack of esprit de corps or sense of unity among the opposition parties in Sabah might likely cost the opposition dearly again as evidenced by the 2013 general election results in which split votes for the opposition parties had deprived them the chance of winning a number of parliamentary and state seats although it was not enough to form the state government.
“I think, even if it is a straight fight between the opposition and the BN in all seats at stake, still the BN, led by Tan Sri Musa Aman, has the edge over its opponents,” he said.
On Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak expressed confidence that BN would retain Putrajaya by winning GE14 this Wednesday, because of the support of the people throughout the country, which he described as phenomenal, including from Sabah and Sarawak.
Another local political observer Edward Kandok opined that the outcome of the upcoming general election was hard to predict although “some say BN has the upperhand”.
“Whenever Warisan (Shafie) organises a ceramah (talk), I noticed sometimes thousands of people turned up... but we are not really sure whether this will translate into votes,” he said, adding that this election was indeed interesting to watch. Edward said based on his observation with two more days left before the polls, the BN seemed to be facing a tough challenge from the opposition for the parliamentary seats of Semporna, Batu Sapi, Silam, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Penampang, Beaufort, Sepanggar, Pensiangan, Keningau and Kota Marudu and the state seats of Api-Api, Luyang, Likas, Inanam, Kapayan, Moyog, Kadamaian, Matunggong, Klias, Tungku, Senallang, Bugaya, Sulabayan, Paginatan, Kiulu, Tamparuli, Nabawan, Sri Tanjung, Karamunting, Tanjong Papat and Elopura. - Bernama