In this article, I wish to send a message to candidates who offer themselves for public office but did not manage to get the support of the electorate.

The 17th Sabah Election has just concluded, so I suppose this is timely. 

My message is equally relevant to those who have held public office for far too long and struggle to let go, even when urged by their party seniors.

There will always be individuals who simply refuse to step aside, clinging to positions as though their identity depends on it. This is also for them.

Well, I was also a defeated candidate myself. So, shall I say that I understand what the losers in electoral battles have to go through after their defeat?

The disappointment, the self-reflection and the slow process of moving on – I’ve been through it and I empathise with anyone walking that path.

The subject of this article was prompted by an online post which I came across just after the Sabah election on Nov 29.

It was presumably penned by a member of an opposition party that suffered a severe drubbing at the polls, listing a series of excuses to explain why voters of a particular community supposedly did not reject them.

This would be amusing if it weren’t so unnecessary, especially when the party’s own top leaders have already conceded defeat and acknowledged the voters’ decision.

Let me say this in all sincerity. It’s time to move on, folks. Elections come and go; victories and losses are part of the game. If you lost this round, take it in stride, return to the ground and work harder to regain the people’s trust. There will always be another election.

At this juncture, allow me to share my personal experience. I, too, have tasted defeat – not once, but twice, in two electoral contests.

And yes, I accepted the results with grace. I told myself it was meant to be, and that there is always life beyond politics.

Candidates who lose must learn to be gracious in defeat and move on. Stop the whining, stop the excuses; accept the verdict of the people with dignity.

In politics, as in life, setbacks are inevitable. You take a deep breath, lick your wounds and remind yourself that it’s all part of the journey.

Yes, dear friends, we have to accept that in a contest, there will be winners and losers. Losing an election is not the end of the world; failing to accept reality with maturity is.

So, to those still licking their wounds after a loss, take heart.

There is life after politics, and for many of us, it’s a better, calmer and more fulfilling one.

Now, let me address those who have held power for long stretches and now find it painfully difficult to let go.

In all sincerity, allow me to say that I understand your struggle. The moment the curtain falls, it is not just a position that slips away; it is the daily rhythm, the respect, the responsibility and the identity built over years.

Anyone who has gone through defeat, as I have, knows that the transition can feel like a personal loss. It takes humility to step aside, and even greater strength to accept that your chapter in public office has reached its natural close.

But let us also remember this. You have been given what many can only dream of – the privilege to serve, the platform to lead and the honour to shape your community.

You have already enjoyed what countless others will never experience. And with that privilege comes the reward of a lifelong pension, a comfort many ordinary citizens work a lifetime for. If nothing else, this alone should inspire gratitude rather than bitterness.

And I find it necessary and important to remind all to be spiritually grounded too.

Do not forget to thank the One Above for all the successes, opportunities and protection granted throughout your years in office.

Leadership is never achieved by one’s strength alone. It is also a blessing. And blessings, when acknowledged, open the door to peace of mind and acceptance.

Stepping away from politics is not defeat. It is liberation from endless pressures, a chance to rediscover yourself, and an opportunity to live a life enriched with quieter joys and renewed meaning.

Again, I must stress, there is, truly, a life after politics – often gentler, more honest and far more fulfilling than what was left behind. Embrace it with gratitude, dignity, and grace.

I wish you all a happy and well-deserved retirement, away from the politics which can be exhausting, unforgiving and all-consuming. May the years ahead bring you peace, good health and the simple joys that public life often denied you.

(Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at [email protected])