Kota Kinabalu: Sabah MCA Chairman Datuk Teah Heok Kuin has called for a strategic approach to seat allocation in the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional coalition, where winnable candidates must take priority over satisfying party demands.
He said the PH-BN partnerships would fail to deliver positive results if seats were distributed just to appease individual parties without considering candidates’ actual chances of victory.
“Voters have matured and no longer want to see seats handed out carelessly just to keep parties happy, only to result in defeat. What people want is a coalition that can win and form a stable government,” he said in a statement, here.
He said that past mistakes must not be repeated, urging coalition partners to place candidates in constituencies where they have genuine prospects of success rather than fielding candidates destined for defeat.
“Seat negotiations must be conducted realistically, taking into account the true strength of parties and candidates on the ground. What matters most is ensuring voters get representatives with real credibility and grassroots support, not just fulfilling party wishes,” he said.
He said that continuing to place weak candidates in unwinnable seats would ultimately harm both the people and the coalition itself, describing Sabah’s future as too important for political experimentation.
He said Sabah MCA is ready to play an active role in seat negotiations, pointing out the party’s commitment to not just contesting but winning and delivering quality service to constituents.
“MCA has the machinery and loyal supporters. Given winnable seats, we can prove our capabilities. The people do not want excuses anymore, they want results. If we make wrong moves, voters will not easily forgive us,” he said.