In today’s Top News Podcast Live with political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun, we dive deep into Sabah’s fast-heating political scene - from the staggering 23 parties gearing up for the upcoming state election to the swirl of high-profile scandals shaking the landscape.
We break down the impact of Zara Qairina Mahathir case, unpack the long-standing challenges of statelessness and undocumented migrants, and look at how these issues are shaping the political mood.
Most importantly, we explore what Sabah voters are really hoping for this time - and whether any party can deliver.
#TopNewsPodcast #MalaysiaPolitics #SabahElection #SabahVotes #SabahStateElection #Sabah2025 #SabahPolitics #SinarDaily
We break down the impact of Zara Qairina Mahathir case, unpack the long-standing challenges of statelessness and undocumented migrants, and look at how these issues are shaping the political mood.
Most importantly, we explore what Sabah voters are really hoping for this time - and whether any party can deliver.
#TopNewsPodcast #MalaysiaPolitics #SabahElection #SabahVotes #SabahStateElection #Sabah2025 #SabahPolitics #SinarDaily
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NewsTranscript
03:29So after that, I mean, assuming it is automatically dissolved, then you have to almost like the end of the year to have an election.
03:37But I mean, time passes really fast right now, right?
03:40Yes, indeed. It's already August.
03:41I know. And it's already mid-August.
03:44So, okay. So we're going to be talking about the state elections expectations, corruption cases, controversies, and of course, what's at stake for the government, federal government, and also state government.
03:55So let's just be clear.
04:25These political personalities, they would like to have their own parties, right?
04:29They would not like to be under another leader. Because also because when you are forming, let's say nowadays, it's very fashionable to form coalition government, right?
04:40When you are forming a coalition government, if you are head of a party, they can bargain for a ministerial position, right?
04:47Whereas if you are just, I don't know, maybe sec-gen or organizing secretary in the party, they say, you become deputy minister or assistant minister.
04:56So that's why everybody wants to have their own party nowadays.
04:58Okay. But like, how would it impact like the fragmentation? Is there going to be an extreme effect of, you know, fragmented states?
05:09Oh, yeah. I mean, it's already a fragmented situation now, right?
05:14Whereby most of these parties, they each have a few seats. Those with more seats, maybe 10, 20, and so on.
05:22Those with fewer seats, maybe even three or five. So they all try to form ruling coalitions in order to be part of government.
05:30So what's your take for Sabah? Is 23 too much for the people?
05:35Well, on the one hand, it's a sign of, shall we say, the vibrancy of democracy, right?
05:41They have all the different parties joining the election and so on.
05:46On the other hand, of course, then it's very difficult to have, shall we say, coherent policy for the state, right?
05:55Because each of these parties, of course, they will look after their own interests and not quite, let's say, the interests of the whole state.
06:03Do you see that in Sabah right now with the current state government?
06:07Mm-hmm.
06:08Do you see that, like...
06:09Well, the state government, they have this so-called Sabah Maju Jaya, I would call them slogan, right?
06:16But, of course, the state still struggles a lot from infrastructural difficulties.
06:22I mean, stable electricity, stable water supply, you know, well-paved roads and so on.
06:28It's still very hard to come by, yeah.
06:30Okay.
06:31So do you think there's going to be any changes or any different promises in the next...
06:38Well, of course, in the run-ups to the next state elections, various parties, they will make, shall we say, very outlandish promises, right?
06:48But, well, you need, to be blunt about it, you need money to deliver those promises, to build more roads, to have, you know, to build dams or to have more power generations.
06:59And so, oh, this needs money.
07:02And then there's this sort of tension between the state and the federal level, well, over money or revenues, right?
07:11So, well, that's going to go on regardless of who is going to form the next state government.
07:17Okay, but then we have to talk about the alleged corruption cases involving the ADUNs, right?
07:22The state assemblymen, and only two have been charged, yeah, but, like, there's so many, allegedly more.
07:30So, like, this is not new.
07:32Every few years must there be huge corruption cases and outbreaks.
07:36Well, this is what I would call, I think, in political science terms, resource curse.
07:43Because Sabah, it's so blessed with so many resources, natural resources mostly.
07:49Anything from, well, minerals to, let's say, timber and so on.
07:54So, it's very tempting for anybody who is the power that be to so-called dip their hands in a cookies jar, right?
08:02And sometimes you get caught.
08:04And in this case, on video, right?
08:06Yeah, exactly.
08:08So, do you think people will be more, like, this time around, people will be more, like, waiting for accountability from the people?
08:15I would like to...
08:16I mean, the people want more accountability from the politicians?
08:18I would like to see that, and I think at least in the more urban areas of Sabah, you have people who are voicing out their displeasures,
08:27trying to have more accountable governments and elected representatives and so on.
08:34But let us not forget Sabah, it's also a very vast state, right?
08:38And in the more rural areas, it's still the struggles with daily livelihoods.
08:44So, any politicians who can, shall we say, dangle some, even though very minuscule rewards or some goodies,
08:54well, there are a lot of people who can be quite tempted, simply because they have very harsh livelihoods.
09:00We have to, you know, we have to sort of empathize with that as well, yeah.
09:04Okay, so we're looking into BN, PH, and GRS corporation.
09:08I think they've agreed that they will be working together.
09:12Well, I think it's in a very confusing setup because...
09:16I agree.
09:17If I understand it correctly, PH is with GRS.
09:21Yes.
09:22But PH is also with BN.
09:24Yes.
09:24But GRS and BN cannot work with each other.
09:27Yeah.
09:27So, how does this work?
09:29I mean, so PH is essentially riding on two different horses on different directions.
09:36So, I don't know, that reminds me of some movies like Ben-Hur or something, right?
09:41Okay, all right.
09:42So, how do you think...
09:44Okay, so you've already stated that it'll be like a confusing situation.
09:47Yeah, yeah.
09:47But like, how do you think they would actually avoid vote splitting in this way?
09:53Well, I think those seats where, let's say, PH could agree with GRS or PH could agree with BN not to overlap,
10:01they will not overlap.
10:02But let's say between GRS and BN, I think they'll be overlapping.
10:06In fact, quite a number overlapping.
10:09Then it's so-called the best person wins then.
10:12So, do you think GRS and BN would be competing against each other?
10:16I think there'll be some seats which are overlapping primarily in the more rural seats especially.
10:24And let us not forget, in Sabah state elections especially, usually there'll be a lot of this independence as well.
10:31Yes.
10:31Well, to call them independence are actually a misnomer because they're actually sponsored by certain parties.
10:38To break the votes.
10:39Yeah, to number one, break the votes.
10:41And sometimes they do win.
10:42Yeah, yeah.
10:42Every election, there must be at least one or two who win.
10:47So, well, then they also become quite, I mean, quite a commodity because, you know, all this coalition would need seats, right?
10:56Yeah.
10:56Okay, so they would become a commodity to enter the parties, right?
11:00Yeah.
11:00Then they would start demanding, hey, how about making me a minister and so on.
11:05Yeah.
11:05Okay.
11:06From the last state election, right?
11:08Uh-huh.
11:09Which happened like about 2020.
11:11I think it was COVID.
11:122020 during COVID.
11:13Yeah, during COVID.
11:13Okay, so that was five years ago.
11:15Yeah.
11:16And now it's five years now.
11:18Uh-huh.
11:18Do you think there's any differences between what's going to happen then and now?
11:22Because, yeah, I mean, that was totally a different situation.
11:25That's right.
11:25We were under a different government.
11:26Yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:27If we're in coalition, we're in corporation.
11:29Well, at that time, it was federally under the Muhyiddin administration with Bersatu sort of leading the government, shall we say.
11:40Therefore, a lot of these elected representatives who are, for example, now under GRS or especially under PGRS, they were elected under Bersatu's tickets.
11:52Yeah.
11:52So now, in fact, for the first time, they will be testing out, I mean, the Haji Ji's party, the PGRS, they will have to test its mental, whether independent of Bersatu.
12:06Okay.
12:06They will still win, well, quite a number of seats.
12:09I don't think they will win a majority, but perhaps some number of seats.
12:12Okay.
12:12And, of course, Bersatu is not very pleased about that, right?
12:16That's why you see PN, it's also entering the Sabah's state election.
12:21Yeah.
12:21So, do you think there will be a...
12:25So, right now, since GRS is with PH, we won't be seeing any of the previous teams, right, from the 2020 election, state election?
12:36Well, PH, I think, will still try to come out in most of those urban and sub-urban seats, let's say around KK, around Sandakan, Ottawa, and so on.
12:51But what is in contention primarily are those, shall we say, the more rural seats where you will see, for example, three, four, five corners fights.
13:02Yeah.
13:02And, okay, one thing that's really big happening right now is the case of Zara Kairina Mahathir and everything that's happened since, like the involvement of potential VIPs and, sorry, alleged VIP children and the whole inquest and everything, everything, everything, the injustice and stuff.
13:25So, how do you, how do you think this case could shift the voters' sentiments to its...
13:32Yeah.
13:33Yeah.
13:33Yeah.
13:33Well, of course, there have been a lot of, shall we say, some mild forms of demonstrations, pockets of demonstrations, public demonstrations in the various, again, the urban areas of Sabah.
13:49And it perpetuates also, even to Malaya here, to West Malaysia, people felt that, you know, the justice has not been speedily and readily and judiciously delivered to Zara, right?
14:08Yes.
14:09And therefore, people are angry.
14:10And whether this sort of anger will then be channeled politically as to, you know, for example, influencing the result of state elections, I think because it's so close, it's going to make an impact.
14:25Yeah.
14:27Well, the allegations are, of course, wide-ranging.
14:32Yes.
14:32Ranging from various VVIP involvements and so on.
14:38Chinese and...
14:39Yeah.
14:40Well, people, people as people, some of this may sink in, right?
14:46Some of these allegations and therefore, they might, number one, reinforce their predilections.
14:54I mean, whether they would like to vote for one side or the other.
14:57And number two, even if they are sort of standing on the fence, they might be swayed to vote for a certain side instead of for another side.
15:07You know what's interesting?
15:09I was wondering, like, there's a lot of Sabahans that stay in KL, right?
15:13Of course.
15:13I mean, not just KL, in the West.
15:15Yeah, yeah.
15:15And a lot of people, like yourself.
15:17Yeah, of course.
15:17But do you think there will be, what's the voters turn out right now, based on the current situation and current emotions at state right now?
15:28What's your take on the voters turn out?
15:31Well, a sub-state election, typically, voters turn out would be at least 60, very often 65 to 70 percent.
15:40And let us not forget, of course, now we have 18 years old who could vote, right?
15:43So, that's also, I mean, a cohort of voters to look at how, for example, you know, like Zara, for example, is a young teenager, right?
15:56And, of course, well, being teenagers, they would empathize with her faith.
16:01So, how they would vote, I think, would also be something to look out for, yeah.
16:06Okay, so, the Zara case will most likely affect?
16:11Oh, yeah, I think it will have an effect.
16:13That's why you see politicians from across the political divide, across the political spectrum, all scramble to either meet Zara's relatives or to do certain things about it, to issue some statements.
16:27Yeah, because they felt that this is going to have an impact on the election, yeah.
16:33Okay, so, I just want to just go a little bit to Datuk Sreenajib Razak.
16:42We're talking about Sabah, and he's not in Sabah, he's in jail right now.
16:46But, after the recent case, I think yesterday, two days ago?
16:49Yeah, there was a Pew case, right?
16:51Yes, so, a lot, a lot of word has it that he'll be out by September.
16:57Yeah, September or November, the latest by November is what I heard.
17:01Yes, okay, this is not us saying it, this is all, like, rumors, public, public talking.
17:09Yeah, yeah, we understand this.
17:11So, what's your think on that and on the impact of Sabah election?
17:14Well, number one, Najib is likely to be out by next year, this time, because by that time, he will have served about four years in jail.
17:25Okay.
17:25And assuming he behaves himself with one-third remission, right?
17:30Yes.
17:30So, in theory, he could be out legally by next year, this time, right?
17:35In time for elections, GE?
17:37So, perhaps, no, but he has five years banned from election.
17:41Oh, yeah, but it doesn't matter, he can campaign.
17:43He can still campaign and so on.
17:46Well, if it does come out before the Sabah state election, well, the question then becomes which side he will campaign for.
17:56Yes.
17:57If he campaigns for UMNO, his beloved party, well, that could have some impact on UMNO's chances in Sabah.
18:05UMNO is BN, right?
18:07Yes.
18:07And BN is not exactly friends with the ruling GRS in Sabah.
18:11Yes.
18:11But the ruling GRS in Sabah is very friendly with the federal government led by PH.
18:18Yes.
18:18So, it will be a very interesting dynamic going on, right?
18:21Yes.
18:21I mean, Najib is part of UMNO.
18:25Yes.
18:25UMNO is an integral part of the federal government.
18:28Yes.
18:29And the federal government is supposedly friendly to GRS, but GRS is not friendly to UMNO.
18:34You know?
18:35Yeah.
18:36So, yeah.
18:37And assuming he campaigns for BN, well, then…
18:40Do you think, like, whoever Najib campaigns for will definitely win?
18:46Well, you, of course, can't say that because, number one, he's from West Malaysia, right?
18:51Yes.
18:52He might have a pronounced effect as he did, I think, in 2021 or 2022 in, let's say, Malacca
19:02and Johor.
19:03Yes, yes.
19:03He did have a very pronounced effect letting UMNO win quite a number of seats.
19:08The victory was in Johor.
19:09Yeah, yeah.
19:10It's incredible.
19:11It's overwhelming, right?
19:12Okay.
19:13But that's, you know, Malaya, West Malaysia.
19:15Yes.
19:16Yes.
19:17In Sabah, he might have an impact assuming he still campaigns vigorously for BN.
19:22I don't know because I'm not sure how the federal government would see this.
19:27Yeah, yeah.
19:28And even without Najib, it's strange enough.
19:31With the Najib element into this equation, it's just going to stir up, you know, even more
19:36excitement.
19:37But generally, what's the Sabah's people feelings towards Najib, sentiments towards Najib?
19:43Frankly speaking, nowadays, I think throughout Malaysia, Sabah included, because livelihood
19:50is not as easy as before.
19:53So it's very natural for people to so-called hug back to the good old days, right?
19:57Yes.
19:58People say, oh, during Najib's days, life was better and so on.
20:03So in that sense, he could have a pronounced positive effect onto whichever side he is campaigning
20:12for.
20:13Okay.
20:14In that sense, including in Sabah.
20:15Okay.
20:16But I think the effect may not be as pronounced as here in West Malaysia.
20:20Okay.
20:21All right.
20:22But good news for the politicians for Najib to come up?
20:26Well, it depends on how you define good news.
20:29Not so good for Zahid, actually, is it?
20:30Yeah.
20:31I mean, on the one hand, of course, in general, it's good for UMNO, right?
20:35Okay.
20:36Somebody with all the boss school effect and so on.
20:38Yes.
20:39But of course, you need to look at the internal dynamics of UMNO, right?
20:42Well, Najib is out.
20:44That means Najib could be in charge again.
20:46Yes.
20:47Then those who are currently in charge may or may not be happy about that, right?
20:51Very often in my experience of observing politics for so many years, what's going on inside a
20:58particular party is far more intense, far more exciting than, let's say, this party A
21:04against party B.
21:05Okay.
21:06Yeah.
21:07Okay.
21:08So, could you tell us, spill us something about what's happening in UMNO right now?
21:10Well, I don't have some sort of insight into UMNO, but of course, you know, as in any other
21:17political party, you have sort of a cascading effect, right?
21:22Yes.
21:23When one leader left, another leader replacing him, then the second tier, third tier would
21:27then move up, right?
21:28Yeah.
21:29Even if, let's say, Zahid is a very nice person and say, I don't mind, you know, I can take
21:41a back seat and so on.
21:42But how about people below Zahid, right?
21:44They would still want to move up, right?
21:46Move up, yes.
21:47And then that would be pitched against Najib's people, hey, boss is back, I want to be back
21:52too, right?
21:53Yes.
21:54How do those dynamics play out?
21:57I think it would be very interesting.
21:58Just in UMNO, we are not even talking about...
22:00The other political parties, yeah?
22:01Yeah.
22:02Yeah.
22:03We haven't even touched on PKR yet.
22:04Yeah.
22:05Yeah.
22:06That's right.
22:07Or that's another kind of war.
22:08You know what?
22:09Because I haven't met you for the longest time, I want to ask you about PKR results,
22:13especially the deputy presidency.
22:15What's your take on the Iza versus Rafizi?
22:18Yeah, I was a bit surprised that the margin, the winning margin of Nuru Iza was apparently
22:25quite huge, right?
22:27Uh-huh.
22:28I thought, yes, she would squeeze by, but perhaps with a thin margin.
22:32Okay.
22:33But that, because in, I think, in the parliamentary election, she didn't win her seats and so on.
22:40Yeah.
22:41So a lot of people said, well, that sort of dim her prospects a little bit.
22:45Okay.
22:46But apparently, at least within her party, she's still quite popular.
22:49Probably.
22:50Of course, there's a father effect.
22:51Yeah, yeah, yeah.
22:52Definitely.
22:53And so on.
22:54But I think PKR, of course, has a deeper problem.
22:58Okay.
22:59Number one, PKR has a lot of different factions, right?
23:03Uh-huh.
23:04And that's from the very beginning of PKR, because it's a lot of these NGO people, social
23:08activists, disgruntled politicians all come together.
23:11Yes.
23:12Of course, they have their different cliques of factions, right?
23:14Yes.
23:15Number two, of course, well, the party president, our beloved Anwar Ibrahim.
23:19Sometimes, you know, despite their differences, Dr. Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim, they are quite
23:29similar in the sense that they don't quite tolerate their number two in the party.
23:33Oh, okay.
23:34Okay.
23:35Remember Dr. Mahathir with Musa, Hitam, and then Anwar himself, and so on.
23:40And then Abdullah Badawi and Najib.
23:43Yes.
23:44Well, very similar in Anwar, right?
23:45Yes.
23:46Yes.
23:47Could not tolerate Asmin Ali, and then now Rafizi.
23:50Yes.
23:51I'm not sure.
23:52Even with the daughter, you know, I don't know whether they will, well, hopefully they
23:57will still get along and so on.
23:58Yeah.
23:59Okay.
24:00Interesting.
24:01But do you think all these items that's happening in PKR, because it was quite controversial,
24:05right?
24:06During the elections, even in Sabah alone, it was quite controversial as well.
24:10Like, do you think that would have any effects on the support on the ground, the grassroots
24:15of PKR and PH?
24:17I think in the Peninsular Malaysia, it would have a very pronounced effect.
24:21Okay.
24:22Because PKR supporters here, they are different camps and so on, right?
24:26Some still support Rafizi, some stay royal to Anwar.
24:33In Sabah, frankly speaking, PKR, I think there are many…
24:39You look so upset, disappointed with the PKR.
24:41Well, there are many, many factions.
24:42Okay.
24:43I'm not sure even which or what is more aligned to Anwar, to Rafizi and so on.
24:48Okay.
24:49So they need to sort of sort out who is a proper or what is a proper and powerful leadership
24:56in Sabah before they can talk about…
25:00Elections.
25:01Yeah, elections.
25:02Wow.
25:03Okay.
25:04Yeah.
25:05I mean, there are, I think in some urban seats, people will still vote for PKR and so
25:11on, but the more rural seats, they really need to work very hard.
25:15But based on reports, so Saifuddin Nasution and Roiza are in charge of the election plans.
25:22And Saifuddin has spoken out about it already for Sabah.
25:26Do you think, since you're saying that you don't even know what's happening on the ground,
25:30right?
25:31At the grassroot level.
25:32Do you think there's a lot of work for PKR to do?
25:35I think so.
25:36Within the next one and a half months, they better, you know, like put up their order
25:40and so on.
25:41Because, I don't know, because I think traditionally, they did very well in these sub-urban seats,
25:49urban seats and so on.
25:50Yes.
25:51So in the more rural seats, they perhaps need to put in more work.
25:55Why are the rural seats important?
25:57Well, because there are many of them.
25:59Yeah.
26:00More than the urban areas.
26:01Yeah.
26:02Out of 73 seats, I think maybe two-thirds are rural.
26:05Yes, yeah.
26:06So yeah, you do need them to win your state government.
26:09Yeah.
26:10But that would be more of UMNOs.
26:11Would you say that's more of BN UMNOs?
26:13UMNO or GRS or Warisan.
26:15Okay.
26:16All these different types.
26:17I wanted to ask you about Warisan.
26:18Dr.
26:19Sorry, Dr. Shafini, Dr. Shafini Abdel said that they will contest all seats.
26:23Yes.
26:24What's your take on that?
26:25Does Warisan have it in them to fight against PH UMNO or GRS?
26:29Well, they will still win quite a number of seats.
26:33Okay.
26:34Whether that number is more than half, I think that is the question.
26:38Frankly speaking, I think it's a bit tough to win an outright majority in the state assembly.
26:44So at the end of the day, you still need to put together a ruling coalition.
26:49If, I mean, they win quite substantial number of seats.
26:52Yeah.
26:53Okay.
26:54And, you know, they...
26:56Okay.
26:57So I want to talk about just one issue that everybody has always been dealing with.
27:01Statelessness and undocumented migration.
27:04Okay.
27:05How do you think...
27:07I don't want to ask you why it's not solved, whatever.
27:09Because we all know it's a difficult situation.
27:12Yeah.
27:13But how do you think will the political parties put forward in the campaigns?
27:18Well, it depends on what ideological preference those parties would take.
27:29Some so-called Sabah for Sabahan parties, they might say, you know, chase them all back to Philippines or Indonesia and so on.
27:38That's, frankly speaking, not a very realistic proposition.
27:41Yes.
27:42But, you know, in terms of campaign, sometimes...
27:44It worries, right?
27:45It sounds good, right?
27:47But somehow you need to so-called regularize this extremely substantial group of people in Sabah.
27:55We are talking about, let's say, one-third of the Sabah population.
27:59Yes.
28:00It's not a very small amount.
28:01I mean, small number.
28:02And, you know, the...
28:05Shall we say the human resources of Sabah also depends tremendously on these people.
28:10Yeah.
28:11Those working in the estates, those working sometimes in the households, in the coffee shops and so on.
28:16Yes.
28:17Whether legally or illegally, that's another question.
28:19Yes.
28:20So, without them, I think Sabah economy would suffer greatly as well.
28:25So, how do you regularize these people?
28:28I think, for one thing, you can go around the world.
28:31I mean, not sending another high-power delegation.
28:34Yeah.
28:35But, I mean, even by doing internet research, right?
28:37Yeah.
28:38You can do, you can see how other countries...
28:40Can emulate the solutions.
28:42Yeah.
28:43Emulate these sort of problems, right?
28:44I mean, ranging from the Middle East to South America, you know, how do they solve this problem?
28:49Yeah.
28:50Okay.
28:51Um...
28:52Okay.
28:53That's quite okay.
28:54But, like, okay.
28:55So, we met a few days ago and you said you heard four different theories already for Sabah.
29:00Could you share with us?
29:01Because I really want to know.
29:02Because you told me, you'll tell me today.
29:04There's various versions of what's going to happen in Sabah.
29:08Some would say Warisan will come back to power.
29:11Okay.
29:12Perhaps at the head of another ruling coalition.
29:17Okay.
29:18Some would say the current GIS is very strong.
29:21They will still lead the government.
29:23Then there were those who are rooting for UMNO and for BN.
29:28Okay.
29:29And, well, there's one version which I heard which is very interesting.
29:34That PH could lead the next state government.
29:36Wow.
29:37That's very interesting.
29:38I think that's slightly tall order.
29:41Okay.
29:42Because, you know, PH nowadays, I think, PH mostly in Sabah, it's PK and DAP, right?
29:50Yes.
29:51So, with DAP, let's say six or seven seats, PK, I don't know, four or five seats, how you then lead the state government?
29:59Well, you need to put together a ruling coalition.
30:03Yeah.
30:04But those other parties with more seats than you would say, hey, why not me being the chief minister, right?
30:09Exactly.
30:10So, yeah.
30:11So, there are various versions being touted nowadays.
30:14I think it's also those different parties putting up the different, shall we say, narratives.
30:20But, like, from your take, right?
30:22You're an expert.
30:23You're from Sabah.
30:24Yeah.
30:25What's your vision in the state election?
30:27What do you see happening?
30:29Again, I think…
30:32You really cannot see it right now?
30:34Well, each major parties, they will win some number of seats.
30:37Okay.
30:38Let's say they are party A, B, C, D, right?
30:40Okay.
30:41So, well, then it depends.
30:42If A, B, C could put together a coalition with a majority, then they will rule.
30:47But how about B, C, D, or C, D, A, or something like that?
30:50Yeah.
30:51So, all sorts of combinations are possible.
30:54Before election, you will hear very loud rhetorics about, oh, I'm totally against that
31:00party or that party totally against me.
31:02Yes.
31:03And then should night.
31:04Yes.
31:05I think they will come together and negotiate.
31:06Yeah.
31:07They will become the best of friends if they can form a government.
31:09Yes.
31:10And then they will always say, you know, in politics, it's so dynamic.
31:12That's right.
31:13It's so dynamic.
31:14But how are you fighting?
31:15Yeah.
31:16The art of the impossible.
31:17So, like…
31:18Okay.
31:19If like that, like…
31:20What is your hope for the voters?
31:24Like, what do you hope for…
31:25Because, you know, you want a better Sabah, right?
31:27Yeah.
31:28Of course.
31:29I think, number one, since over the last…
31:32Well, almost a year now, we have heard a number of scandals.
31:35Yes.
31:36And then, now there is the Zara case.
31:40And then voters are also experiencing a lot of, shall we say, infrastructural inconvenience.
31:47Yes.
31:48Water, electricity, roads, and so on.
31:50Well, then you should carefully read the manifestos of various parties.
31:55Of course, those are promises.
31:57But, I mean, what…
31:58Yeah.
31:59What else can you over-depend on?
32:00What else can you do, right?
32:01And see which one you think could best address these concerns.
32:05Okay.
32:06And…
32:07Well, Sabah really needs some development because we really cannot continue like this.
32:14Constantly struggle.
32:15You know, like…
32:16Tomorrow is my birthday.
32:18Oh my god!
32:19Happy birthday!
32:20And…
32:21I'm flying back to KK to celebrate my birthday with my wife, right?
32:26Okay.
32:27But I'm half expecting to go straight from the airport to stay in the hotel instead of
32:32in my KK home because there might or might not be electricity.
32:35Are you serious?
32:36Yeah, of course.
32:37So, there were times when my wife…
32:41I mean, after the plane took off, you know, and then when it landed, my wife told me,
32:47no electricity at home, we go straight to a hotel.
32:50And better check whether that hotel has electricity supply as well.
32:53Yeah.
32:54Of course, ma.
32:55Otherwise, why don't you go there and you stay?
32:56Yeah, yeah.
32:57Exactly.
32:58I don't know.
32:59Many, many times.
33:00Such that one of these hotels automatically upgrade me to a suite and so on.
33:04Wow.
33:05Because I stayed so many times.
33:06Yeah.
33:07Wow.
33:08Okay.
33:09Wow.
33:10That's so…
33:11How do you…
33:12Okay.
33:13I'm sorry.
33:14We…
33:15I live in here.
33:16I live in KL.
33:17I live in Selangor.
33:18And I mean, having no electricity…
33:19Electricity cut is because of a problem.
33:20Yes.
33:21A technical problem.
33:22Not like a schedule.
33:23Yeah.
33:24This is like in South Africa.
33:25Something loading, load shading or something like that.
33:28Okay.
33:29Yeah, yeah.
33:30So like, how do you feel when you're in KK?
33:33KK is beautiful.
33:34I love KK.
33:35Yeah, yeah.
33:36I love going to KK.
33:37And…
33:38This is unconscionable.
33:39I mean, I grew up in KK.
33:40During my younger years, there were all these electricity blackouts and so on.
33:44Okay.
33:45And now I'm turning 51 and I'm still facing this.
33:48It's half a century of suffering.
33:50So I want to see an end to this.
33:53Frankly speaking, I cannot tolerate it anymore.
33:55So when you…
33:56And I think this sentiment is shared by many Sabahans.
33:58Yeah.
33:59You know, we grew up there half a century.
34:00Okay.
34:01Tell us, like, how was it growing up in KK?
34:02And when you moved to KL, I mean, when you stayed here, you stayed…
34:05I don't know, you stayed in Singapore as well, right?
34:07Yeah, yeah.
34:08Like…
34:09Yeah.
34:10Like how…
34:11How do you feel?
34:12Well, a lot of things which you take for granted, right?
34:16I mean, like efficient public transport, you know, stable electricity and water.
34:23Yeah.
34:24Well, in Sabah, you cannot take that for granted.
34:27You know, you…
34:28Even today, we have promises of…
34:30What is this?
34:31Pambonio Highway and so on.
34:33That has still yet to come to fruition.
34:35And because of this so-called construction of Pambonio Highway, a lot of diversions and so on.
34:42And road conditions, shall we say, not so nice.
34:45So, yeah, I look forward to a day where I could…
34:49I don't ask for a lot.
34:51I just want a decent infrastructure for Sabah.
34:54Oh my god!
34:55That's so hard.
34:56Yeah.
34:57How are we supposed to expect that when there is so many corruption cases being released out, you know?
35:03That's why I call it a resource curse because we are so resourceful.
35:09So, everybody wants to dip their hands in the cookie jars.
35:12So, like, you know, a few weeks back, I interviewed Datuk Sri Alexander Nantalingi…
35:17From Sarawak.
35:18From Sarawak.
35:19So, I asked him about the state elections for Sabah.
35:22And then he said…
35:23He kind of, like…
35:24He compared it to Sabah.
35:26He compared Sarawak and Sabah together.
35:28And he said that the thing about Sabah is there are so much tigers on a hill
35:32where there is no hierarchy.
35:34Everybody is in power.
35:35Compared to Sabah where they know who and who and who and who is where.
35:40So, do you have a similar opinion on that?
35:44Or is it because people can't be united?
35:46Or what's the issue?
35:47Like, are people just too greedy?
35:49Well, I tend to agree with the last conclusion, isn't it?
35:53Okay.
35:54Because, well, you have different tigers or many tigers, then all the tigers will try to hunt, right?
36:00Yes.
36:01Well, as opposed to if you have one big tiger…
36:03Yeah.
36:04Well, that tiger will also have to hunt.
36:05Yes, yes.
36:06So, the concern is the hunting, right?
36:07Yes.
36:08Yes.
36:09So, I don't know.
36:10I mean, if we could have perhaps more hard-working orang-utans, you know, than attracting more tourists…
36:19Yeah.
36:20And so on…
36:21Okay.
36:22…perhaps better than all these crouching tigers…
36:23Oh my god!
36:24I love your description, right?
36:26Yeah.
36:27Sleeping dragons or something, right?
36:29Okay.
36:30Yeah.
36:31Okay.
36:32So, yeah, I really look forward to a day where Sabah could be like Hawaii, could be like Waikiki,
36:38could be like Bali, and so on, right?
36:40Okay.
36:41These are all the major attractions.
36:42According, I think, to one statistics, last year, well, over the past quite a number of years,
36:49Sabah received approximately the same number of tourists as, let's say, Bali, right?
36:53Wow, okay.
36:54But you look forward to go to Bali because infrastructure is nice, and then…
36:59You know, it's very culturally oriented.
37:04Some of the restaurants…
37:06Two nights ago, I went to a restaurant here in KL.
37:09It's Balinese restaurants…
37:11Yeah.
37:12…which I try in Bali, and now they are opening up branches in KL, right?
37:16Yeah.
37:17I mean, I look forward to a day where Sabah restaurants could also open up branches in,
37:22you know, KL and beyond.
37:23And Singapore and in Indonesia.
37:24Yeah.
37:25I mean, that's…
37:26Yeah, that'd be amazing!
37:27I envision, yeah.
37:29Yeah.
37:30And we need a government who could, or which could sort of lead that kind of vision,
37:35which could provide that kind of opportunities for us Sabahans to shine, yeah.
37:40Do you think the leadership, the people in power in Sabah are just too old-fashioned or too traditionalist?
37:50I don't want to say the word.
37:52I think preoccupied with politicking.
37:54Okay, that's right.
37:55Okay, that's right.
37:56And then…
37:57And why do you do politicking?
37:58Because you want to, you know, attain power, right?
38:01Yes.
38:02You want to attain power in order to do whatever wonderful things you would like to do.
38:05Yeah.
38:06Wonderful, yeah.
38:07So, do you think that they need new faces?
38:09Do you think Sabahans need new faces?
38:10Do you think they need younger faces?
38:12I don't know, like…
38:14I think they need…
38:15Okay, to be honest.
38:16When I see Sabah's government, all I see, ah, Pakcik-Pakcik yang patutnya dah retire dah.
38:21Yeah.
38:22I think we need more conscientious faces.
38:26And over the years, of course, both the federal and state governments, you know, they send a lot of these youngsters to studies overseas and locally.
38:39Yeah.
38:40And these are very bright people.
38:41I met a lot of them in conferences, both in Sabah as well as here in Peninsula.
38:45Yeah.
38:46You know, sometimes I thought, wow, if these people, even though how young they were, if they could be somehow…
38:51I won't say in charge of Sabah.
38:53Okay.
38:54If they could somehow get themselves involved in Sabah, how nice that will be.
38:58Yeah, I do share a bit of this enthusiasm for younger generation to sort of shape Sabah for the better.
39:06Do you see, like…
39:07You know, recently, Sabah has been in the spotlight for Saeed Sadiq working with Bella.
39:12You know, they've been going to Sabah, they've been climbing…
39:15Oh, yeah, because…
39:16Okay.
39:17Yeah, because of them.
39:18Yeah.
39:19And, you know, if they are Saeed Sadiq, Rafi Z, Kyrie…
39:23Yeah.
39:24Kyrie's sidekick…
39:25Sharyu.
39:26Why not?
39:27You forgot Sharyu's name.
39:28Sorry, Sharyu.
39:30And Nick Nasmi and so on.
39:33And perhaps some from Sabah and some from Sarawak.
39:36Yeah.
39:37Imagine if they could somehow band together.
39:39Uh-huh.
39:40Well, forming a political party would be good, but somehow band together.
39:43Okay.
39:44And provide a new vision, new leadership for the country.
39:48Yes.
39:49And for, you know, states such as Sabah and so on.
39:50So, it's interesting you mention all these specific names.
39:52Yeah, yeah.
39:53Because they're the people that are seeing…
39:55Like, the young people…
39:56Yeah.
39:57…are seeing this group of people.
39:58Yeah.
39:59Why do you think…
40:00What's hindering them from working together?
40:02Well, of course, they have been politicians for quite some time.
40:06Yeah.
40:07And sometimes, you know…
40:08You…
40:09Let's say this group of five or six of them, right?
40:11Yeah.
40:12Who is going to lead the group, right?
40:13That's…
40:14Probably KJ.
40:15That would be quite a question, right?
40:17Yeah, KJ.
40:18Rafi Z…
40:19I mean, Kyrie would say…
40:20Why not me, right?
40:21Rafi Z, like…
40:22No, me.
40:23Yeah.
40:24So…
40:25But that's politicking.
40:26I mean, that's politics.
40:28And I hope that's healthy style of politics.
40:31Okay.
40:32Because they're healthy competitions.
40:33And…
40:34And so on.
40:35But you know, when you mention those names, right?
40:36Mm-hmm.
40:37Like, KJ and Shariel are out for mum, no?
40:39Rafi Z and Nick Nazby are basically out of PR.
40:42They're not out, but out of favour.
40:44Mm-hmm.
40:45Shouldn't they just go into Muda inside Sadiq's party since Sadiq already had…
40:48Well, then Sadiq would say,
40:50Hmm, very nice.
40:51So, you guys would be all under me, right?
40:53Yeah, exactly.
40:54So…
40:55Do you think that then, if that way,
40:57Muda has to restructure themselves, or how?
41:00He…
41:01Ideally.
41:02These are all my good friends.
41:03Yeah.
41:04And I hope them the best of luck for both Malaysia and for my beloved state of Sabah.
41:08Yeah.
41:09Of course, you need also a few faces from Sabah…
41:11Yeah, of course.
41:12…to compliment them.
41:14Well, I think we stray a bit from the topic.
41:17Okay, okay, okay.
41:18But I think…
41:19No, no.
41:20It's okay for me.
41:21Okay.
41:22I…
41:23As I look at Malaysia, you know, outside of Malaysia, people respect us a lot.
41:29Okay.
41:30I mean, especially recently after we mediated the Thai…
41:34Cambodia…
41:35Cambodia conflict, right?
41:36Yes.
41:37…no less than Donald Trump himself, you know, expressed an interest to come to Malaysia…
41:44Yes.
41:45…and perhaps do a summit with all the wonderful leaders of the world, right?
41:49Yeah.
41:50It's unheard of, you see.
41:51Okay.
41:52Remember his first term, totally neglecting Southeast Asia, right?
41:56Yes.
41:57Yes.
41:58And this time, he is taking the initiative to have a closer look here.
42:01Yes.
42:02And I think that we are doing well in that sense in the eyes of the international community.
42:07But domestically, frankly speaking, I think we are quite a mess both politically…
42:12Okay.
42:13…as well as economically.
42:15Because despite some of these growth numbers, if you ask anybody on the street, very seldom
42:22do you hear very positive answers, right?
42:25Yes, yes.
42:26It's like, I'm feeling the vibes.
42:27I'm really feeling the growth.
42:28Yeah, yeah, yeah.
42:29You don't hear that.
42:30No.
42:31In Chinese community, are your business so susa, right?
42:34Okay.
42:35And then you go to some other communities, livelihood so susa, you know, right?
42:38So, money not enough, prices are too high.
42:42Yes.
42:43So, you know, you don't feel like our population is feeling the fruits of those so-called growth.
42:53Yes.
42:54So, how do we do that?
42:55How do we make sure people could participate more?
42:58Here, of course, in West Malaysia, you have more, shall we say, conditions for doing that, right?
43:04Especially in Klang Valley.
43:07And, well, I think you need to continue to do that.
43:11And hopefully in the process, Sabah could partake a little bit as well.
43:15Okay.
43:16Yeah.
43:17Okay.
43:18So, before we end today, I need your predictions.
43:21Well, I think we will see a coalition government in Sabah on election night.
43:27Well, hopefully on election night.
43:28Not the next morning.
43:29Not the next morning.
43:30But I think likely it may be the next morning or a few days afterwards.
43:34Okay.
43:35But who is going to be the Chief Minister?
43:37Well, I can really not make a responsible prediction.
43:42I can only say I hope that person would, I wouldn't say, lead Sabah to new heights and so on.
43:48Too high expectation.
43:49Yeah.
43:50That's right.
43:51But at least provide ample infrastructure for Sabah so that when I do go back to Sabah,
43:57I don't need to worry about staying in a hotel anymore.
44:00Okay.
44:01So, electricity and water.
44:02The most important.
44:03And roads.
44:04And roads, yeah.
44:05Electricity, water and roads.
44:06Roads.
44:07Anything else?
44:08Let's take care of this.
44:09Okay.
44:10Let's take that at first.
44:11All right.
44:12Thank you so much, guys, for watching.
44:13This is Tasin from Sina Daily.
44:14Make sure you follow all our social media platforms.
44:16And this is Dr. O. A. San.
44:18He's a Sabahan.
44:19He's a political analyst.
44:21And he has said what I'm sure everybody is thinking about.
44:24See you guys.
44:25Thank you so much, Dr.
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