Political alliances are shifting in Sabah, and the latest development has sparked both confusion and debate. DAP Secretary-General Loke Siew Fook has clarified that his party did not make a last-minute decision to contest the Kemabong seat, contrary to some reports. Instead, he revealed that DAP had initially reached a preliminary agreement with Barisan Nasional (BN) at the state level, allowing DAP to field a candidate in Kemabong while UMNO, a component of BN, would contest the Liawan seat. But here's where it gets controversial... Despite this agreement, BN later insisted on contesting Kemabong as well, leaving DAP with no choice but to proceed with its own candidate.
In a candid interview with FMT at the Tanjung Aru nomination center, Loke explained, “We held off on announcing our Kemabong candidate last Saturday, hoping to resolve the matter through negotiation. Unfortunately, BN remained firm in their decision to contest the seat, so we had to move forward.” He emphasized that DAP would not field additional candidates in other constituencies, including Liawan, as a gesture of goodwill.
This situation has set the stage for a friendly contest between DAP, BN, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in Kemabong. Loke assured that this competition would not strain relations between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the other coalitions, stating, “There are seats where we couldn’t reach a consensus, but these are friendly contests. Sabah’s political culture is unique, and we respect that.”
DAP’s candidate for Kemabong, Senator Noorita Sual, is no stranger to the constituency. Having served as the MP for Tenom, which includes Kemabong, she brings significant influence and experience to the race. Loke highlighted, “Our grassroots strongly support our presence in Kemabong, so we couldn’t step aside.”
Meanwhile, GRS has nominated Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah vice-president Rubin Balang, who is seeking a sixth term as assemblyman, while BN is fielding Rahmah Jan Sulaiman from UMNO. And this is the part most people miss... Despite PH’s earlier electoral pacts with both BN and GRS, these contests underscore the complexities of coalition politics in Sabah.
Loke concluded by reaffirming DAP’s commitment to a positive campaign, focusing on the strengths of their candidates rather than attacking opponents. “We want voters to decide based on merit,” he said.
What do you think? Is this a sign of deeper fractures within the coalitions, or simply a reflection of Sabah’s unique political landscape? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear your perspective!
