Gesaan ganti Arthur timbulkan persepsi Umno mahu dominasi BN Sabah

Concerns have arisen that Arthur Joseph Kurup may be replaced as the President of Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah, as this could reinforce the perception that Umno still seeks to dominate the coalition and struggles to share power with local parties. Syahruddin Awang Ahmad, an analyst, stated that challenging Arthur's leadership could spark internal rebellion and weaken BN as voters increasingly favor local agendas and leadership.

A professor from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, he argued that the criticism directed at Kurup for his performance in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan PRN elections was unjustified, as Umno has a broader network in the peninsula. Syahruddin asserted that the appointment of Arthur as BN Sabah's president was a strategic move to align the coalition with the demands of the local electorate that increasingly demand leadership from the regional party.

He noted that this situation could erode trust among Sabah voters who prioritize local issues. Additionally, Ghazalie Ansing, leader of PBRS, claimed that Kurup might want to retain his position in Anwar Ibrahim's federal government. The MP for Penitiangan is the Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Environment. Kurup was appointed as BN Sabah's president in January, following the party's lackluster performance in the state's PRN elections.

BN only managed to win six parliamentary seats, but formed part of the state government after supporting Sabah's Chief Minister, Hajiji Noor, from the GR-S. Arvin Tajari, from Universiti Teknologi Mara, dismissed the concerns as immature and ignoring PBRS's role as a bridge for BN to connect with the local electorate. He emphasized that while Umno is the largest party in BN Sabah, it must acknowledge the poor performance of the party in the recent polls and show respect for the local populace's preferences.

"PBRS represents the local party within BN," he said, warning that Umno Sabah cannot continue living in a nostalgic era of dominance. "The political landscape of the state has changed since the emergence of GR-S and Warisan," he added. Tajari concluded that both coalitions are increasingly taking over BN's position as the preferred choice for Sabah voters, forcing Umno to accept the reality that the regional party's strength is crucial to reviving support.

"Umno and BN must face reality...PBRS can be highlighted to regain the attention of Sabah's voters without Umno continuing to portray the state as a BN stronghold," he concluded.