Sabah Umno’s priority must be GRS, not PAS, says Salleh

Former Sabah Chief Minister Salleh Said Keruak advised Sabah Umno to prioritize Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) over a partnership with PAS. He cautioned against an automatic Umno-PAS alliance in Sabah, emphasizing that the two parties have separate alliances in West Malaysia. Salleh stressed that Sabah Umno should position itself as a party that comprehends the state and its people by collaborating closely with local parties, particularly GRS.

He deemed working with a local partner like GRS as a simple method to ensure political stability, the state's development, and safeguard the interests of the East Malaysian region. Although the idea of Malay political unity via an Umno-PAS pact might appeal to voters in the peninsula, Salleh argued that Sabah's political landscape differs significantly.

The November state election demonstrated this, as GRS secured 29 out of 73 seats, and Warisan earned 25, together capturing 54 seats, or nearly three-quarters of the state assembly. In contrast, Barisan Nasional won only six seats, while Perikatan Nasional claimed one, and Pakatan Harapan managed to win just one seat out of the 20 they contested.

This demonstrates that Sabah voters are increasingly prioritizing state interests, autonomy, development, and Sabah rights. Salleh warned that an Umno-PAS understanding that works in Malaysia might not be suitable for Sabah and could potentially backfire if perceived as a Malaya-centric political arrangement. He expressed his thoughts on a Facebook post following the Negeri Sembilan polls, where the BN alliance won 18 of 36 seats and the PN alliance took seven, giving them a two-thirds majority in the state legislature.

This victory has already sparked discussions about expanding their alliance in future elections, including the upcoming general election.