Opposition will not win Sabah, says analyst

PETALING JAYA: The Opposition will have no chance of winning Sabah should Barisan Nasional (BN) call for an early state election, political analysts said amid talks that it could happen by the first half of this year.

Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir said the state opposition is in disarray and at its weakest point, and that it only made sense for BN to capitalise and call for snap polls.

“They don’t seem to gel any better. A lot of leaders are leaving the opposition parties. The only chance is for them to work together, but I don’t see them having any chance at all.

“I would say the best they can do is win 15 of the 60 seats,” he said when contacted yesterday. The Opposition won 12 seats in the last state election.

Jeniri said early polls would allow the whole BN machinery to focus their strength on Sabah instead of campaigning nationwide during the general election.

“They will also be able to identify and rectify whatever weaknesses or issues they may have heading towards the general election.”

Calling for a early election would not be something extraordinary, considering Sabah had done the same prior to the 2004 general election.

Another analyst, Dr Arnold Puyok, said the only chance the Opposition has of winning was by avoiding contests against one another and running as a single coalition force.

He also warned BN to be cautious of losing its current two thirds majority hold on the state if it does not regain the confidence of the rakyat following a rough few years under Najib’s leadership.

Arnold added that Parti Warisan Sabah might also cause an impact in the election, citing its president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s influence and popularity among those in the east coast of Sabah.

Speculation is rife that BN may call for a state election as early as April after Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman urged leaders to “work as if elections was every day”, with state BN leaders already claiming to be prepared should it be called earlier.