SANDAKAN: The Chinese voters in Sabah merely wanted to give DAP and PKR a taste of their own medicine and they were not concerned whether Parti Warisan could form the state government.

Dr Lee Kuok Tiung, associate professor from the Social Sciences and Humanities Department of Unviersiti Malaysia Sabah, said the Chinese voters had already chosen the candidates they wanted.

 In a democratic country, one cannot say this was a “waste.”

When Chinese voters first began supporting DAP in past years, they too did not expect DAP to be part of the government.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Dr Lee pointed out that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) also had a Chinese candidate elected— Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) candidate Datuk Ben Chong Chen Bin in Tanjung Kapor.

After the state government is formed, it is also possible that six additional assemblymen will be appointed, and these appointed seats may include Chinese representatives.

Dr Lee believes that the biggest winner in this Sabah state election is Parti Warisan, as even they themselves did not expect to sweep all the urban seats.

The biggest losers, meanwhile, are the national-level parties—especially DAP, which was wiped out, and PKR, which won only one seat.

However, Dr Lee stressed that one should not assume this defeat means that Sabah DAP will collapse for good.

 “Sometimes the atmosphere in state elections and national elections differs. For example, in Sarawak, the state-level DAP was nearly wiped out, left with only two seats—but in the general election, they performed exceptionally well,” he said.

PAS wins its first seat in East Malaysia

Commenting on PAS Sabah chairman Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan’s victory in Karambunai state seat — marking PAS’s first foothold in East Malaysia, Dr Lee believes strongly that Dr Aliakbar Ali won because of his personal character, strong criteria compare to other candidates and his five years of groundwork in the constituency. It is not due to religious expansion.

Lee said that to build a good federal–state relationship, the Sabah state government does not necessarily need to be made up entirely of local parties.

Although newly-sworn-in Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor can form a purely local government without Warisan, Dr Lee does not believe the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (state governor) will allow a repeat of the 2018 political drama.

He said GRS was unlikely to accept Warisan into the ruling coalition because many Warisan candidates had attacked GRS during the campaign.

Therefore, Warisan is expected to become the opposition bloc in the state assembly.

He revealed that although the anti-hopping law prevents elected assemblymen from defecting, it does not prevent them from expressing or pledging support to any side.

“Hajiji has full authority to decide the direction he thinks is best, but there is certainly no room for Warisan. However, as in any situation, support from Warisan assemblymen is still welcome,” he said.

Hajiji has already been sworn in as Chief Minister, with the state governor serving as the “gatekeeper,” and Barisan Nasional (UMNO) has already expressed support for GRS, he said.

It is now up to the GRS supreme council to decide whether UMNO will be accepted.

He added that not all assemblymen supporting GRS should—or are qualified to—receive positions in the state government.

Many state assemblymen or MPs from ruling parties do not have cabinet or government positions.