Sabah, Sarawak no longer ‘fixed deposits’, say analysts

 

An analyst says federal party leaders visit Sabah and Sarawak only during election time and make promises they do not keep.

KOTA KINABALU: The call by a PAS leader to strengthen relations only among peninsula-based parties is a classic example of West Malaysian politicians ignoring the importance of Sabah and Sarawak, analysts said.

Socio-political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the comments by PAS strategic director Khairuddin Aman Razali showed that peninsula-based parties have forgotten that the Borneo states can help them achieve their political ambitions.

He said the remarks also suggested the parties have returned to the old ways of considering Sabah and Sarawak their “fixed deposits”, a term used by the previous Barisan Nasional government to describe the support it received from the states.

Khairuddin had stated on social media that PAS could secure a two-thirds majority in the next general election by strengthening the alliance among the three Malay parties.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi

He was later rebuffed by Perikatan Nasional partner STAR whose president, Jeffrey Kitingan, pointed out that PAS needed to factor in Sabah and Sarawak parties when thinking of securing a two-thirds majority for the coalition.

The Sabah deputy chief minister said PAS should also look at strengthening relations with Sabah and Sarawak as a strategy because both may still be kingmakers.

Sabah PAS secretary Aliakbar Gulasan stepped in to diffuse the situation by saying support from the two East Malaysian states was important to attain a clear victory in the elections.

Awang Azman said Kitingan’s “kingmaker response” could be seen as a “warning” to the peninsula-based parties.

“The West Malaysian parties should be more sensitive as this can bring about an unexpected reaction by the local parties in both states,” he said.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Lee Kuok Tiung said any political coalition needed the support of Sabah and Sarawak parties despite them holding only a combined 57 parliamentary seats.

Lee Kuok Tiung

He said Khairuddin’s comment did not augur well for gaining support from Sabah and Sarawak, especially after previous leaders in the peninsula reneged on promises made to the two states.

“During general elections, many of these leaders come over here and talk about being equal partners and even promising a deputy prime minister’s post.

“But moments after the elections, they forget about everything,” he said.

Lee said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s comments that shariah laws could be strengthened if the party secured a two-thirds majority also did not help.

He said Umno’s opponents were using this issue and the court cases involving the party’s leaders as political ammunition.

“This has caused many to distance themselves from Umno,” he said, pointing out that Barisan Nasional partner MCA had opposed hudud laws before, and the statement about strengthening shariah laws “will backfire on themselves now”.

Arnold Puyok

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak deputy dean Arnold Puyok said the primary focus for peninsula-based Malay parties now was on shoring up support among the Malay voters there.

He agreed that Kitingan’s “kingmaker” reminder could be perceived as a warning.

“He can issue a warning but Sabah is not like Sarawak. Sabah is much more open and is not insulated from federal politics.

“Sarawak is more insulated as the local-based parties are in control and cannot be easily swayed by federal pressure,” he said. - FMT