Getting on the wrong boat in Sabah politics

Free Malaysia Today

Sabah's Chinese community had been the kingmaker in fractional tribal differences since the 80s, but not this time.  Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2025/12/01/getting-on-the-wrong-boat-in-sabah-politics  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #PRNSabah

Transcript

00:00The Chinese community has long been seen as kingmakers in Sabah politics.

00:06But according to co-founder of Think Tank Sense, Fui K. Sung, this time the gamble did not pay off.

00:14The AP's total loss at the 17-state election was framed as the Sabah Chinese community's rejection of Putrajaya.

00:21But was that really the story?

00:23On Saturday, voters had an array of local parties to choose from.

00:28But in the end, the results were split almost evenly between two uncompromising factions, GRS and Warisan.

00:36For decades, Sabahan Chinese trusted Barisan National to deliver progress.

00:41But when that failed, they turned to Pakatan Harapan in 2018, drawn by the promise of hope carried in its name.

00:49Later, they boarded Warisan's boat, believing it offered a fresh course.

00:55But repeated shifts in government, dismissed cases, and unfulfilled reforms eroded that trust.

01:02Promises of development melted away like snow in spring as poverty deepened, infrastructure crumbled, and rights eroded.

01:10This election, the gamble backfired.

01:13The AP won nothing.

01:15Warisan failed to secure the sales it hoped for.

01:18And Kadazan Dusun Morut voters, wary of Warisan's stance on migrants, turned elsewhere.

01:24Meanwhile, GRS emerged with 29 seats.

01:28Hajiji Noor was swiftly sworn in and backed by PBS, APCO, PH, and Independence.

01:35Once again, Sabah's famed party-hopping politics shaped the outcome.

01:40So where does this leave Sabah's Chinese community?

01:43Once a decisive swing block, it is now stranded between boats.

01:47Perhaps it's time for a new keel.

01:50A broader vision like Borneo for Malaysia, moving past old slogans that divide more than unite.

01:57The gambler's hand has been out-strategized.

02:00The question now is, how will this reshape the 90% of Malaysian Chinese elsewhere who still back Pakatan Harapan?

02:07Where will their next port of call be, or will there be none at all?

02:14Read Fui Ke-sung's opinion piece, Getting on the Wrong Boat in Sabah Politics.

02:19Only on FMT.

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