00:00Perikatan Nasional may be forced to contest the Sabah election on its own because of limited
00:07options in forming alliances, say political analysts. University Malaya's Awang Azman
00:13Pawi said after rejecting cooperation with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, PN does not have many
00:19viable choices left as it is unlikely to team up with its main rivals, Pakatan Harapan and
00:24Barisan Nasional. Yesterday, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition would not cooperate
00:31with GRS in the state election because of what he described as a betrayal by GRS after its leaders
00:37then in Bersatu left in November 2022 following the outcome of the 16th general election.
00:43Sharadin Awang Ahmad of University Malaysia Sabah said PN may have to rely on the popularity of its
00:49national leaders, an appealing manifesto, and aggressive campaigning if it contests the election
00:55independently. He said this would be difficult because of the dominance of local parties in Sabah
01:00politics, something PN lacks given that its component parties consist of Bersatu, PAS, Garakan and the
01:07Malaysian Indian People's Party. Tony Paridi Bagang of University Technology Mara Sabah said PN could
01:13face stiff competition if it contests the election independently, making it difficult to win a
01:19significant number of the 73 state assembly seats up for grabs.
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