A confident Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, hailed for the state's sound financial management and state Barisan Nasional (BN) supremacy in the 2008 general election, is once again expected to spearhead the coalition in the coming polls against a disunited opposition in the state.
Firing the first salvo after the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat and the Sabah Legislative Assembly yesterday, Musa, who is also the state BN chairman, called on the people of Sabah not to gamble away their future by experimenting with an opposition government.
"Think wisely before making a decision, and don't gamble away the future of our children and the country," Musa was quoted as saying.
The charismatic Musa led the state BN to a thumping victory in the last general election, capturing 24 of the 25 parliamentary seats and 59 of the 60 state seats, leaving the DAP with the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary and Sri Tanjung (Tawau) state seats.
With negotiations for a possible one-to-one contest or showdown between the BN and a united opposition front in Sabah making no headway, the BN is now in a better position to deliver another double political knockout to its opponents in both the parliamentary and state elections.
The seeds of disunity began to appear within the opposition when Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced here recently that Pakatan Rakyat would face the BN on its own without the support of the state-based parties in the coming general election in Sabah.
This did not go down well with the leaders of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), a local party that left the BN on Sept 17, 2008, which had been hoping for a strategic alliance to face the mighty BN election machinery.
In what is seen as a blow for the opposition, SAPP secretary-general Datuk Richard Yong had subsequently described Anwar's announcement as implying that "PR is over-confident".
They hold themselves so high that there is no need for cooperation from Sabah parties to campaign against the Barisan Nasional. They have ignored the peoples aspiration for the opposition to go one-to-one against the BN in the coming election, Yong was quoted as saying.
Adding salt to the wound, State Reform Party (Star) Sabah Chapter chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan confirmed joining the fray, and expects his party to be involved in contests of three-corner or more in most of the parliamentary and state seats.
Short of saying that it might further split the opposition votes and give the advantage to the ruling party, Jeffrey said "every political party is free to field a candidate in elections as it is in line with the principle of democracy as practised in Malaysia".
A political analyst, Salman Nurillah, said that based on the prevailing political scenario in the state, with the split and disunity among the opposition parties, the BN seemed to have the upper hand to rule the state for another five years.
Salman, a former civil servant with a law degree from Universiti Malaya and a Master's degree from UiTM, said that with the SAPP and the STAR joining the fray with special focus on the issue of the Borneo Autonomous agenda, this would surely be a boost for the BN to repeat its feat of the 12th general election.
"Advantage is definitely on the BN side because, in the political arena, whenever there is a split or disunity among the opposition, the ruling party will always get the benefit," he said.
Citing the results of the 2008 general election for the state seats of Likas, Kepayan and Inanam in Sabah, Salman said the split opposition votes gave victory to the BN.
"I believe things like this will happen again in the coming general election," he said, adding that either Pakatan Rakyat or SAPP or even STAR candidates would turn out to be the spoiler for the opposition votes one way or another.
Another factor that gives the advantage to the ruling party is the BN government's seriousness in handling the security issue, particularly the terrorist intrusion in Lahad Datu.
"I feel it is a 'blessing in disguise' from the security point of view which was previously taken for granted.
"With the government's decision to increase the security personnel to guard the sovereignty of the state, particularly in the east coast as well as the implementation of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), it brings out the confidence of the people, especially voters, in the government.
"They feel safe as security is under control and are convinced of the government's concerted efforts to avoid similar incidents in the future," he added.
Salman said the feel good factor towards the good administration of the Sabah government under Musa, especially in bringing about development in all aspects for the people and the acceptance of the new transformation policy implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the brainchild of the 1Malaysia concept, would also contribute to the BN's victory in the polls.
He concurred with the statements by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin that Najib had done a lot for the BN and the country as the prime minister in terms of political and economic transformation since he took over the helm.
However, Salman predicted that the BN would face a tough time to recapture the DAP-controlled areas of Kota Kinabalu and Sri Tanjung as well as face a strong challenge from the opposition in the urban and suburban areas.
He said these included the parliamentary seats of Sandakan, Tawau, Beaufort, Tuaran, Penampang, Sepanggar and Pensiangan.
"Of course, with proper selection of the so-called 'winnable candidates', the Barisan Nasional will be able subdue the opposition in these areas," he said.
Bernama
Fri Apr 05 2013
KMUM cela agenda dakyah zionis di Universiti Malaya
Kesatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (KMUM) dalam pada itu mengambil pendirian dengan tegas mengecam terhadap kenyataan dikeluarkan oleh ilmuwan pro-zionis di Universiti Malaya.
Penceramah zionis: Netizen kecam pensyarah label Malaysia Islam-fasis
Rata-rata mereka berkata, Ahli akademik pro Zionis itu tidak dialu-alukan di Malaysia dan ideologi Zionis tidak diterima di negara ini.
Pesawat bawa mendiang Joanna tiba di Kuching
Pesawat C-130 Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) yang membawa jasad mendiang Laskar Kelas I JJM Joanna Felicia Rohna, 26.
EPL: Pertahan teman wanita, Rice buktikan masih wujud lelaki budiman
Pemain tengah Arsenal Declan Rice memuji teman wanita Lauren Fryer dan mempertahankannya selepas beberapa kumpulan pembenci memalukannya.
Reaksi penstrukturan semula akaun KWSP kepada tiga akaun
Bersama ditalian, Ketua Kluster Mikroekonomi, Pusat Kajian Pembangunan Inklusif dan Lestari (SID), Fakulti Ekonomi dan Pengurusan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Dr. Mustazar Mansur.
Aishah terkejut, tak sangka video nyanyian spontan tepi jalan jadi tular
Menurut Aishah, tindakan yang dilakukannya itu adalah secara kebetulan dan tidak dirancang sama sekali.
Bursa Malaysia dibuka bercampur-campur
Pada 9.23 pagi, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) naik 0.35 mata kepada 1,571.83 daripada 1,571.48 ketika ditutup pada Rabu.
Tahanan reman lima individu termasuk anak MB disambung hingga esok
Kesemua suspek berusia 27 hingga 37 tahun itu ditahan oleh SPRM antara pukul 7 dan 8 pagi Selasa lepas di sekitar Perlis.
[TERKINI] KWSP akan struktur semula akaun KWSP kepada tiga akaun
Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) mengumumkan inisiatif penstrukturan semula akaun KWSP berkuat kuasa 11 Mei 2024 bagi tujuan menambah baik keselamatan pendapatan persaraan di samping memenuhi keperluan kitaran hidup ahli.
KWSP struktur semula kepada tiga akaun mulai 11 Mei
Akaun KWSP akan distruktur semula daripada dua kepada tiga, iaitu Akaun Persaraan, Akaun Sejahtera dan Akaun Fleksibel.
Bukan koman-koman, PRK Kemaman disifatkan ''battle of honour''
Pilihan Raya Kecil Kemaman disifatkan sebagai battle of honour yang menjadi medan penting untuk menilai dinamik dan landskap politik negara.
PRK Pelangai: Peluang PN, BN menang setara - Takiyuddin
Takiyuddin optimis PN mempunyai kelebihan, impak daripada strategi pecutan akhir yang dilakukan parti itu.
Kalau BN kalah PRK Pelangai, PH kena bertanggungjawab - Mohamad Sabu
Menjadi tanggungjawab jentera PH memastikan kemenangan calon BN di PRK Pelangai.
PRK Pelangai: Bapa ingatkan Amizar jangan tabur janji bulan bintang
"Usah berjanji bulan bintang semata-mata untuk meraih undi", itu pesan bapa kepada calon Barisan Nasional (BN) pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Pelangai Datuk Amizar Abu Adam.
BN hilang 27,000 undi Melayu pada PRK - Isham Jalil
BN kehilangan 27,000 undi Melayu pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Parlimen Pulai dan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Simpang Jeram yang berlangsung pada Sabtu.
PRK: PH mungkin hilang Simpang Jeram jika undi BN beralih - KJ
Khairy Jamaluddin tidak menolak kemungkinan Pakatan Harapan (PH) hilang kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Simpang Jeram.
'UMNO bertanding sendiri, itu pandangan peribadi saya' - Azalina
Azalina berkata, kenyataannya berkenaan UMNO boleh menimbang bertanding atas tiket sendiri pada pilihan raya selepas ini berbanding menggunakan logo BN adalah pandangan peribadinya.
Pasca PRN Selangor: Perang sudah tamat, kini masa berkhidmat untuk rakyat
Persoalan siapa memiliki 56 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) dalam Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) Selangor telah berakhir dan mandat telah diberikan rakyat kepada pemimpin yang dipilih.
Saarani nafi keluar kenyataan ada perubahan 'besar' jika BN tidak diangkat MB Negeri Sembilan
Saarani berkata perbuatan mewujudkan kenyataan palsu itu langsung tidak membawa sebarang manfaat kepada negara serta rakyat.
Usaha PM bangunkan negara tidak harus ternoktah dengan keputusan PRN - Pemuda UMNO Kota Raja
Mohd Zaffarollah menegaskan biarpun UMNO mengalami kekalahan teruk, namun ia tidak seharusnya mengubah apa-apa keputusan menyertai Kerajaan Perpaduan.