FIRST IN A SERIES OF NOTEWORTHY STATE POLLS AHEAD OF NEXT GE
Sabah’s election is the first in a series of noteworthy state polls – next up are Melaka, Johor and Sarawak – between now and 2028, by when Malaysia’s 16th General Election (GE16) must be held.
The 16th Sabah polls were held in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government then was dissolved barely more than two years after the last election.
Caretaker Chief Minister Hajiji had led the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government. GRS – an alliance of several local parties – had been working with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The governing bloc commands over 50 seats, inclusive of nominated seats.
In Sabah, the opposition is led by Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), together with Barisan Nasional (BN). They have 23 seats, including two nominated seats.
Two seats were vacant – one because of a death and another after a former assemblyman was convicted of a crime.
PH, BN, GRS, and Warisan, however, are working together at the federal level.
The Sabah polls will be a test of how well Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government partners can work together even as their collaboration is not a given at the next General Election, political leaders and analysts previously told CNA.
Source: CNA
