KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno could soon make more demands on key appointments in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government after the party’s return to power at the federal level, analysts said.
They believe this is likely after state Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin gave assurances yesterday that while Sabah Umno woud back Hajiji Noor as chief minister, it would also need to talk to the state Bersatu chief “to arrange new strategies for the development in Sabah”.
Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun said the “new strategies” were code words for more political demands, such as appointments in the state administration and positions already held by GRS component parties.
But at the same time, he opined that Bung, who is deputy chief minister, will not shake the GRS tree just yet.
“Bung is playing it cautiously and shrewdly, waiting to see how it plays out at the federal level,” he told FMT. “I don’t think he will make any hasty move to unseat Hajiji.”
When asked yesterday if his party would continue to back Hajiji to remain as chief minister, Bung had said: “Sabah Umno has promised to give full support (but) we need to sit down and talk with the chief minister to arrange new strategies for the development in Sabah.”
The Kinabatangan MP also did not directly shoot down claims that Sabah Umno would make similar moves in the state like its federal counterpart did to Bersatu in the peninsula.
“For me, those comments are too early to talk about. This is because Sabah Umno has clearly given its commitment that we will defend GRS in any way we can,” Bung had said.
If Bersatu ‘disturbs’ new federal government
Political analysts had previously said Sabah Umno could be eyeing the chief minister’s seat if the party replaces Bersatu as the main driving force at the federal level.
Sociopolitical analyst Awang Azman Pawi, however, contended that Sabah Umno could try to assert its position in the state as a result of the party’s newfound authority in Putrajaya in order to make GRS, or Hajiji, play to its tune.
“This is not something impossible in Sabah, especially when Umno managed to take over Johor, Perak and Melaka even before they got the prime minister’s position,” he told FMT.
“But this will only happen if Bersatu tries to ‘disturb’ the government led by new prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Then, Bung will do the same in Sabah.
“If the chief minister does something to make Sabah Umno unhappy, it will be a reason to retaliate against Bersatu.”
Oh reiterated that instead of Bung, other Sabah Umno assemblymen or leaders could push for the state chapter to shake things up in the GRS government.
“There are many ambitious political figures in Sabah, so yes, that is distinctly possible.
“Even Bung will have to worry (because) if he’s not making the move, some people in his party may. And then they may push him to join them,” he said.
The GRS coalition is made up of the Perikatan Nasional members Bersatu, STAR, PAS and SAPP, as well as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). - FMT
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