00:00Barisan Nacional and Pakatan Harapan are likely to clash in several seats in the upcoming Saba polls,
00:07a prospect analyst warned could strain their federal-level partnership.
00:11University Malaysia's Saba's Bilcher Bala and Sharodin Awang Ahmad said clashers were almost certain
00:17following Libaran UMNO chief Suhami Nasir's recent push for BN to reclaim traditional party seats
00:24that had been allocated to PH in previous negotiations.
00:27Bilcher warned that these clashes could erode grassroots confidence and voter trust
00:33as it would be seen as a sign of wavering principles.
00:36Despite being allies at the federal level, BN is in opposition in Saba,
00:41while PH has separate pacts with both BN and Gabungan Rakyat Saba, who have refused to cooperate with each other.
00:48Sharodin warned that disagreements in several seats risk souring BN-PH ties,
00:53especially if personal attacks and sensitive issues surface during the campaign.
00:58Still, both Bilcher and Sharodin believe post-election cooperation between BN and PH is highly likely,
01:05given Saba's fluid political landscape since GE14 and the 2020 state election.
01:11Natasha Beast, FMT.
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