00:00A political analyst has questioned the direction Perikatan Nasional will take in the upcoming
00:06Sabah state election following the exit of the Sabah Progressive Party from the coalition.
00:11Earlier this month, PN Chairman Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the coalition's manifesto
00:16for the election would focus on the state's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
00:21However, on Saturday, SAPP President Yong Thaek Lee announced the party's departure
00:26from PN, arguing for the need for local parties to contest all 73 Sabah state seats exclusively.
00:33University of Malaysia Sabah's Bilca Balas said SAPP's exit weakens PN's appeal in
00:38Sabah, adding that ongoing internal conflicts and leadership challenges within the coalition
00:43could also impact their overall electoral strategy and effectiveness.
00:46Meanwhile, O Ae Sun from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said PAS, a member
00:52of PN, could mitigate this impact by leveraging its Islamic credentials in rural areas of Sabah.
00:59Bilca also said SAPP's departure is part of a broader push for autonomy among local
01:04parties in Sabah and Sarawak, reflecting a wider sentiment for self-determination against
01:08federal dominance.
01:11Dhanusha Dureza, FMT News.
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