00:00Analysts have poured cold water on Jeffrey Kitingan's planned Gerakan Sabah-Baharu pact,
00:05with one pundit predicting the new state-centric alliance will have little meaningful impact.
00:10James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Sabah's political arena is already saturated,
00:16with multiple parties vying for seats in the upcoming state polls,
00:20either on their own or as part of already established coalitions.
00:24He said the recent exit of Kitingan's party solidarity,
00:27Tanah Air Ku and the Sabah Progressive Party from the ruling Gabongan Rakyat Sabah Coalition
00:32has only served to crowd the state's political landscape even further.
00:36However, he acknowledged that personality, branding and resources are pivotal
00:40to electoral success in Sabah and that Kitingan's prominence in the state stands him in good steed.
00:47Bilcher Bala of University Malaysia Sabah believes Kitingan's new alliance may struggle at the state polls
00:53as Starr's 11th-hour exit from caretaker Chief Minister Hajijinor's GRS
00:58gives it little time to woo other parties and build up its election machinery.
01:03He also said the decision of five senior Starr leaders all Assemblymen to stick with GRS
01:08has dealt a heavy blow in terms of retaining grassroots support.
01:12Panyu Jo, FMT.
01:13Panyu Jo, FMT.
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