Uncharted waters across the sea

The shift towards local-based opposition parties in Sabah could have far-reaching implications.

ON Sept 20, with a heavy heart, Likas assemblyman Junz Wong tendered his resignation to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Lim is the politician for whom Wong has the utmost respect and the DAP first-term assemblyman thought it was important to explain his decision to his political mentor.

“Change is happening, but not at a pace we hope for. Many challenges continue to lie ahead of us. Sabah and Malaysia are heading towards uncharted waters,” Wong wrote to Lim. “As a Sabahan myself, I fully understand why Sabahans bear a certain level of animosity towards peninsula-based parties.” Why did you leave DAP? I asked Wong. “It is simply because, with due respect, I know for a fact that Sabah DAP cannot form the Sabah government. What more I cannot pretend that it can and lie to myself, my people and my Sabah,” he said.

The triple resignations of Wong and PKR’s assemblymen Datuk Lajim Ukin (Klias) and Terrence Siambun (Moyog) from their parties to join Sabah-based parties on Sunday are still debated on Facebook and WhatsApp groups in Sabah.

Though the chatter has been drowned by the “RM3.3bil Watergate” corruption scandal in my state, Sabahans are still debating on whether the trio are zeroes or heroes.

Sifting through the political chatter, I sense that opposition-leaning Sabahans support Lajim and Siambun’s move. The PKR branding in my state is weak.

However, opposition supporters in my state are divided on Wong’s resignation. His move resonated with opposition-minded locals who are not entrenched with DAP. But not with the die-hard DAP supporters who perceive his move as a betrayal of their party.

To get an insight on the impact of Wong’s resignation, I WhatsApp-ed Wong, the former Sabah DAP secretary, and Chan Foong Hin, the Sri Tanjung assemblyman who is now Sabah DAP secretary.

With Wong leaving DAP, is this the end of DAP in Sabah?

Wong: “No one is indispensable and I believe that DAP as well as any political parties will not end its presence in Sabah.”

Chan: “Junz is just one of the DAP leaders in Sabah. Why should DAP end when just one leader left? The other six state committee members who quit the party are not really key leaders.”

Will DAP drown in Sabah under Sabahans’ opposition sentiment in the state?

Wong: “The message is clear that Sabahans want Sabah to be governed by Sabahans without having to refer to any political body or leadership outside of Sabah’s shores. DAP, being a national-based party in Sabah, is all but a branch with limited autonomy as all decisions at the end of the day are made centrally in west Malaysia.”

“As for the situation right now, I observed and interacted with many Sabahans and especially Chinese Sabahans who are as excited as me with our new movement. However, the caveat is the Chinese, after seeing how the Barisan Nasional had always easily pointed fingers at the democratic choice of the Chinese, will want a strong and united localbased coalition to be formed.”

Chan: “For Sabah-based opposition sentiment, it’s a kind of sentiment which gets big media coverage but not necessarily wins the heart of the silent majority. Last GE results already have shown that Sabah-based local sentiment is not the factor to decide the voting pattern. The total votes won by local opposition was about 5%, while Pakatan Rakyat gained about 40%.”

“With so many years of hard work by PKR and DAP, we have established ourselves in Sabah. Furthermore, we are more consistent with the struggle than any local opposition available in the market now. DAP is having strong branding in urban areas, while PKR is also recognised by mixed seats or rural voters. I wonder whether the voters can recognise the new party logo by Lajim’s party and (Datuk Seri) Mohd Shafie Apdal’s party.”

Who will the Chinese voters pick in Sabah – DAP, SAPP, Wong’s party or Barisan?

Wong: “They will vote for this strong localbased opposition as we, being the people in Sabah, have always wanted to change this Barisan government and kick Umno out of Sabah.”

“If DAP insists (despite this sentiment) on contesting in all Chinese seats, then it will be a sad scenario whereby it is likely to be a grand Sabah local-based political party coalition led by Shafie vs Barisan vs DAP in Chinese seats – and this is what we want to avoid.”

“DAP might find itself in a difficult situation without much relevance, a similar experience to the last Sarawak state election.”

Chan: “For DAP, as an established brand of loyal opposition in the Malaysian Parliament, I believe the votes for parliament seats are still with us. For state seats, it’s about the elected reps’ quality and service delivered; those incumbents can retain the seat only with their performance.”

Will the voters punish Wong for quitting DAP?

Wong: “Possible, if my voters don’t see the rationale as to why I, as a Sabahan leader, had to make this tough decision for Sabah. I have, however, the confidence and faith in my voters, be it Sabahans or people who live in Sabah, who will eventually understand why this movement is necessary and why we must do this now to face GE14.”

Chan: “I think so. Normally, Chinese don’t like their people’s reps to quit the party. It is perceived as betrayal, no matter what good reasons are used. In previous election, Junz won the battle just because he was contesting under the rocket ticket. Without the party, he is nobody.”

Wong argued that he left DAP because he wanted to be in a Sabah-based party to fight for Sabahans. Can’t DAP fight for Sabahans’ interest?

Wong: “When we speak of Sabah’s interests, we literally mean the future of all Sabahan generations, resources management and policies affecting Sabah should be determined by Sabahans by a political movement based in Sabah as we know best what’s the best for Sabah.”

“Sabahans know how marginalised we have been and why we are in this dire situation today, because every decision is made centrally.”

Chan: “It is not necessary for you to join a local party to prove that you are Sabahan. Does he mean that he never fought for Sabah before when he was with DAP? It’s ridiculous. A national party does not necessarily bully or marginalise Sabah, and a local party can betray our own people as well!”

“I don’t see any problem with fighting for Sabahan rights through a national platform. We need friends from all over Malaysia to support our cause; a national platform can provide us with the friends we need. What can a local party with few MPs do? What can a local-based state government do without the change of Federal Government?”

The political exit from national-based parties to Sabah-based parties is not over. More are expected to become zeroes or heroes.