Imagine a political alliance on the brink, strained by a last-minute decision that could fracture everything. That's precisely the situation unfolding in Kemabong, Sabah, as revealed by DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook. The core issue? A contested seat that threatens to disrupt carefully negotiated electoral pacts. This isn't just about one seat; it's about the future of cooperation between Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
According to Loke, despite preliminary agreements, BN decided to field a candidate in Kemabong, a move that seemingly blindsided DAP. He stated that DAP had initially delayed announcing their candidate, Senator Noorita Sual, hoping to reach a consensus with BN at the state level. The original understanding, he explained, was for DAP to contest Kemabong while UMNO, a component party of BN, would focus on the Liawan seat.
"But, in the end, BN said they still want to contest in Kemabong. That’s why, at BN’s request, I did not announce (DAP’s Kemabong candidate) last Saturday," Loke clarified, emphasizing the efforts made to avoid a direct clash. He revealed this information to FMT reporters at the nomination center for the Tanjung Aru seat this morning.
And this is the part most people miss... Loke was careful to underscore that despite the Kemabong contest, DAP wouldn't be fielding additional candidates in other constituencies, including Liawan, honoring the broader spirit of their agreements. So, what does this mean for the bigger picture?
Loke emphasized that DAP is only contesting two additional seats from the six it won in the 2020 state election, a testament to their commitment to maintaining stability within the alliance. He highlighted Noorita Sual's strong local ties, noting her previous term as the MP for Tenom, the constituency encompassing Kemabong. He clearly states that DAP cannot simply give way to others for the seat because it is what the grassroots want.
"We feel that it’s our grassroots’ wish (for DAP to contest in Kemabong). So, we cannot give way to others for the seat," Loke stated firmly.
But here's where it gets controversial... Loke attempted to downplay the potential fallout, characterizing the clash with BN and GRS as a "friendly contest" that wouldn't significantly damage relations between Pakatan Harapan and the two coalitions. He suggested that such situations are common in Sabah's political landscape, which differs from that of West Malaysia. He acknowledged that there were some seats where they could not reach a consensus, so friendly contests were inevitable.
"There are several seats where we could not reach a consensus, so there are friendly contests there," he said. "Although there are seats where we’re clashing with our allies, we will campaign positively. We will campaign based on the capabilities of our candidates. We want to promote them and let voters make the decision."
GRS, in this scenario, is fielding Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah vice-president Rubin Balang, who's aiming for his sixth term as the Kemabong assemblyman. BN's candidate is Rahmah Jan Sulaiman from UMNO, setting the stage for a three-way battle. PH had previously established separate electoral pacts with both BN and GRS for this state election, making the Kemabong situation all the more delicate.
So, the question remains: Can these alliances withstand the strain of this contested seat? Is Loke's assessment of a "friendly contest" accurate, or is this a sign of deeper fractures within the coalitions? And most importantly, how will this impact the voters of Kemabong? What do you think? Will this friendly contest actually be friendly, or will it lead to more tension within the alliance?
