KOTA KINABALU:The political dynamics in Sabah and Sarawak are fundamentally different from those in Peninsular Malaysia and should not necessarily be approached using the same political or electoral formula, said Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Salleh Said Keruak, Sabah UMNO Treasurer.
Salleh said while Malay political unity involving UMNO and PAS may have electoral appeal in Peninsular Malaysia, the political environment in Sabah and Sarawak was shaped by different considerations, including state interests, autonomy, development and regional identity.
He said the 2025 Sabah State Election clearly demonstrated the uniqueness of the state’s political landscape, with GRS winning 29 of the 55 seats it contested, while Warisan won 25 of the 73 seats it contested.
“Together, these Sabah-based political forces captured 54 seats, representing almost three-quarters of the State Assembly,” he said in a social media posting.
Salleh noted that Barisan Nasional (BN) won six seats, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) secured one seat. Pakatan Harapan (PH), meanwhile, suffered a major setback, winning only one of the 20 seats it contested.
According to Salleh, the election result reflected the growing influence of state-based considerations among Sabah voters.
“The message is clear: Sabah voters are increasingly influenced by state interests, autonomy, development and Sabah rights,” he said.
He pointed to Sarawak as an even stronger example of how regional political dynamics could shape electoral outcomes.
“GPS has consolidated its position through a distinctly Sarawak-centred political platform, while UMNO has never established itself there,” he said.
Salleh cautioned that any political understanding between UMNO and PAS that may work effectively in Peninsular Malaysia should not automatically be applied to Sabah.
“Such an approach could backfire if it is perceived as a Malaya-centric political arrangement,” he said.
Instead, Salleh said UMNO Sabah should be regarded as a national party that understands Sabah’s unique political realities and is capable of working closely with local political parties, particularly GRS.
He said the political formula for Sabah should be built around four key considerations — political stability, development, Sabah rights and the interests of the people of Sabah.
“The formula should be straightforward: political stability, development, Sabah rights and the interests of Orang Sabah,” he said.
Salleh stressed that Malaysia’s unity did not necessarily mean that every state should adopt the same political or electoral approach.
“One country does not necessarily require one political or electoral formula,” he said.-pr/BNN
