As the dust settled over the Sabah 2020 election, Bersatu found itself in familiar territory - it is now in charge of a government, without having to be the dominant party.
After the 2018 general election, Bersatu was tasked with leading the governments of Perak, Johor, Kedah and the federal government, despite not being the party with the most seats in the respective legislatures.
Newly appointed Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has put together an 11-member cabinet that is largely proportionate to the number of seats won by Bersatu, Umno, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
With fewer votes in the cabinet and in a state where "strongman" politics is key, would the current arrangement make Bersatu a weak and ineffective ruling party?
Several analysts contacted by Malaysiakini said they believe Hajiji's position was essentially weakened and he had no choice but to compromise on cabinet appointments due to the dynamics between Bersatu and Umno at the national level.
Sabahan and senior fellow at the Singapore International Institute of Foreign Affairs Oh Ei Sun described Hajiji as a "seat keeper" for Bersatu president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
"His job is to help Bersatu hold on to a supposed primacy in the state government so that Muhyiddin can stand up to Umno in future negotiations," Oh (above) said.
This was in reference to the ongoing power struggle between Bersatu and Umno at the national level, following the two party's decision to form an alliance in March.
This had allowed Umno back into power in Putrajaya, while taking charge in Malacca and Johor.
'Hajiji had to make things up with Umno'
Universiti Malaya Department of Socioculture's Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Hajiji had to make things up with Umno for taking up the chief ministership, by giving the party four seats in cabinet.
"Bersatu realises it wasn't as strong as it thought in Sabah and thus was forced to accept the sentiment of the Umno grassroots after the chief minister attempted to breach his promise," Awang Azman said.
Following his appointment, there was widespread speculation within Umno circles that Hajiji had breached his promise to appoint Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin as the minister of works.
That job was initially given to Bersatu's Masidi Manjun, but rescinded within hours.
"But, the damage is done (between Umno and Bersatu)," Awang Azman said.
Such sentiments, he added, were shared by Umno leaders across the country with Umno's number two, Mohamad Hasan, pointing out Sabah Umno been sidelined despite having the most seats on the government bench.
However, Awang Azman noted that Bersatu was also looking to shore up support from PAS, by appointing one of its members as an unelected lawmaker, despite PAS not having a direct role in the Sabah election.
Awang Azman believed that this move was designed to "take care of Perikatan Nasional" at the national level. Umno is not an official component of PN while PAS was.
While Awang Azman believes that Hajiji's hold on the state government was secure for now, Oh said Hajiji's government was still exposed to wranglings at the national level between Umno and Bersatu.
"Hajiji will be plagued at the federal level by the constant power struggle between Umno and Bersatu, and at the state level both by predictable challenges from the state opposition, as well as by the sometimes unpredictable moves by Bung and Jeffrey Kitingan, the state deputy chief minister," Oh said.
"He needs to revive the state economy in the longer run, and to be able to handle the resurgent pandemic in the short run." - Mkini
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