East Malaysia is the key to hold off that ‘blue wave’

 Maybe it is time for Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan to pay more attention to Sabah and Sarawak, to counter the BN-PN alliance.

From Clement Stanley

Following the recently concluded Negeri Sembilan state election, there are mounting fears that Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional will work together again at the next general election.

The BN-PN combo to consolidate Malay votes does not bode well for Pakatan Harapan which has done everything it could possibly do to win the community’s hearts, with nothing to show for it.

Pundits and PH sympathisers are suggesting numerous ideas to prevent a clean sweep by BN and PN, although it might be a case of being “too little, too late”. No matter how much one promotes the idea of a corrupt-free government or a better economy it would never outsell communal politics, which is gathering momentum like a runaway train.

At this stage, Anwar Ibrahim and PH seem lost as to what to do or what it can do to break the “blue wave”. So maybe it is time for Anwar and PH to turn to East Malaysia.

Sabah and Sarawak do not have the same kind of politics found in Peninsular Malaysia, where every issue is viewed from a racial or religious perspective. In fact, the last Sabah state polls were drenched in “Sabah first” sentiment, not of race not religion. Such a sentiment is likely to resonate in the coming Sarawak polls.

If PH is determined to break the “blue wave” and remain in power after GE16, maybe it is time to pay East Malaysia some serious attention, perhaps even accommodate the request for more seats.

Sarawak also has another advantage — they have kept Umno out of the state, and BN no longer exists there.

After BN’s high from victories in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, a power play has begun in Sabah with a demand for Arthur Joseph Kurup, of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah to be removed as Sabah BN chairman.

Imagine the arrogance that will follow if they win Putrajaya.

To be fair, the Madani government has been accommodative to East Malaysia, so why not bring it up a notch and curtail the ambitions of any political party that thinks they can appease the people of East Malaysia with Gardenia bread?

Sabah and Sarawak will return the favour when the time comes because both East Malaysian states have always been different and will continue to be different. - FMT

Clement Stanley is a FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.