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THE outcome of Sabah’s 17th state election offers one unmistakable message: voters remain firmly anchored to the politics of practical development, not the politics of sentiment.
In choosing Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) by a wide margin, Sabahans demonstrated a clear desire for continuity and for a state administration able to work productively with Putrajaya.
Political analyst Prof Dr Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR) argues that the electorate’s priorities could not be clearer.
“Sabahan voters want a state government that can work with the Federal Government, and they still hunger for development such as roads, water, electricity and infrastructure. That is the priority,” he said.
“Politics in Sabah is development politics, and the people want a state government that can deliver a positive impact.”
For Azmi, GRS distinguished itself not merely by winning convincingly but by demonstrating a track record that resonated with the electorate.
The coalition, he said, “proved its ability to advance development agendas that are closest to the people’s needs,” in contrast with Warisan and Barisan Nasional (BN), which failed to convince voters that they could deliver meaningful progress.
This, he insists, does not signal a dramatic shift in federal–state relations. Instead, he sees the Sabah result shaping political calculations in Peninsular Malaysia far more than it changes Sabah’s own approach to Putrajaya.
“If you want a drastic change in the relationship between the state and the Federation, then Warisan would have been the best choice — but we see that the party is somewhat behind compared to what GRS achieved,” he said.
The implications, Azmi believes, will be felt most strongly by Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) as they head towards upcoming by-elections in Melaka and Johor.
“Even though GRS is said to be closely linked to PH, with some cooperation, it was not translated into voter support,” he noted, suggesting that the Sabah result will heavily influence seat negotiations in the Peninsula.
“In Melaka, PH wants more seats but BN opposes it; with Sabah’s results, BN may feel they have the upper hand.”
Asked what ultimately propelled GRS to victory, Azmi pointed to its administrative stability since 2020 despite periodic political upheavals.
“Stability gives the people greater opportunities, and that is what voters saw and supported,” he said.
He also argues that Sabah’s political landscape has not changed drastically after the polls, but voters have sent a clear warning to local parties.
“If a party only fights for purely local issues like Warisan, it is not enough. If a party merely repeats its past glories like BN, it is also no longer relevant to young voters,” he said.
The younger generation, he added, is not swayed by nostalgic stories of past political dominance.
“Especially young voters who never experienced BN’s greatness at that time — they judge based on what is happening today, not on history,” Azmi said.
Sabahans, it seems, have cast their lot with a government that promises delivery rather than drama — and that choice may reshape not only the state’s future but the ambitions of political blocs across Malaysia. - November 30, 2025