After Sabah’s Verdict, Will Anwar Still Dare Push for an Early Election?

Sabah has spoken and the message was not subtle.

It wasn’t whispered.

It wasn’t coded.

It wasn’t diplomatic.

It was loud, clear, and unmistakable.

And if my father were alive today, he would chuckle, lean back, and say:

“The rakyat has just given Anwar the middle finger.”

Because after everything the federal government has done,

after squeezing Malaysians with taxes left and right,

after raising the cost of living,

after cutting subsidies while preaching “compassion”,

after splurging millions in Sabah as if the state could be bought…

The government walked away with ONE seat.

And DAP, the party that lectures everyone else,

walked away with zero.

Zero.Nada.Yilek.

If that does not shake Putrajaya to its core, nothing will.

A Humiliating Night for the Federal Government

Let’s recap the irony:

✔ Taxes increased nationwide

✔ Cost of living soared

✔ Federal spending in Sabah skyrocketed

✔ Promises and announcements rolled in non-stop

Yet when the ballots were counted?

One seat.

And for DAP, the party that once thought it could conquer every corner of Malaysia with slogans and moral lectures.

Sabah’s answer was:

“Not here.”

Now Comes the Real Question:

Will They Still Dare Call for an Early Election?

Before Sabah went to the polls,

there were whispers.

Talk of dissolving Parliament early.

Talk of combining the general election with upcoming state polls.

Talk of striking while the opposition was “divided”.

That was the plan or at least the fantasy.

But after last night?

After a humiliating one-seat performance in Sabah?

After DAP’s complete wipeout?

After a state rejected federal money and federal machinery?

Will they still dare?

Because Sabah didn’t just reject candidates.

Sabah rejected a narrative.

Sabah rejected a style of governance.

Sabah rejected an attitude.

Sabah has always been an early warning system for national politics.

In 2018,

in 2020,

and now again.

What happened in Sabah is not isolated.

It reflects a national feeling:

• Fatigue

• Frustration

• Anger

• Disbelief at rising prices

• Discontent with endless taxes

• And disappointment at how power is being used

Sabah’s results show that no amount of spending,

no amount of last-minute announcements,

and no amount of federal power

can force voters to stay loyal.

Not anymore.

If They Call for an Early Election Now, It Will Not End Well

This is the simple truth.

If the government dissolves Parliament soon:

• Malay heartland? Not secure.

• Urban voters? Slipping fast.

• Youth voters? Angry.

• East Malaysia? Just delivered a warning shot.

• DAP? Losing ground.

• Sabah? A total rejection.

• National mood? Fragile.

Calling an early election now would be political suicide.

And the government knows it.

For years, Sabah has been told to wait.

To trust.

To believe.

To be patient.

Last night, Sabah replied:

“Enough.”

My father was right.

If he were here, he would say it again with a grin:

“The rakyat has given the government the middle finger.”

And he would be right.

Because no matter how Putrajaya spins it,

no matter how much they try to soften it,

no matter how many press statements they release…

The truth is simple:

Sabah has changed the game.

And the federal government will now think long and hard

before calling any early election.

Because if this is how Sabah votes today,

imagine how Semenanjung will vote tomorrow.

Well done Sabah!

Raja Sara Petra

Raja Sara Petra (rajasarapetra@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!

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