KOTA KINABALU: Once upon a time, the song of D’LLoyd – Mengapa Ini Semua Harus Terjadi was so popular that it became the anthem of the youth in Sabah during the 70s.
Today, that song resonates in the hearts of the people of this state, not for its melodious tune but for its lyrics that echo the anticipation of the date for the dissolution of the Sabah PRN, which is undoubtedly nerve-wracking – yet still has not arrived.
With five months remaining until the automatic dissolution of the Sabah DUN in November, it appears that the GRS leadership remains ambiguous in many of its stances.
Social activist and political analyst Dr. Kanul Gindol stated that compared to previous Sabah PRNs, this time the state election seems to have lost its “element of surprise” as the election could occur at any moment within these last five months, just waiting for the DUN to dissolve.
He noted that while PH and BN have more or less established their targets and positions, some are beginning to perceive GRS as losing its direction… GRS’s allies have yet to be clarified, the distribution of seats is increasingly becoming a puzzle, and the candidate list is disrupted by corruption cases and the looming threat of component parties leaving GRS to use their own symbols.
The sentiment of being “just a local party” is significantly impacting the political landscape of Sabah, further unsettling the GRS-PH government, which finds itself caught between the offers from PH and BN to form a coalition.
“There is a possibility that the date for the dissolution of the Sabah DUN may have to be set while the GRS-PH-BN coalition issue remains unresolved. It is highly likely that only during the dissolution of the DUN will GRS-PH-BN become a limited coalition between GRS and PH alone,” he stated to Jesselton Times when asked to comment on the potential dissolution of the Sabah DUN in the near future.
Observers have begun to suggest that it may be time for the current government to establish an early schedule for dissolution and voting to avoid speculation about when the DUN will be dissolved, even though the DUN itself can be dissolved at any time, he noted.
Dr. Kanul mentioned that it is quite rare for the DUN and Parliament to dissolve on their own due to the end of their term, indicating that such occurrences are more reflective of weaknesses in decision-making, such as failing to consider weather conditions, school holidays, and the prevailing “mood” both locally and regionally.
Many observers agree that the situation of the Sabah DUN, which has been in a state of emergency for the last five months, is primarily a “GRS issue” since PH and BN have already announced their readiness to divide the 40 seats between PH and the remaining 33 for BN if GRS cannot determine its allies for this upcoming state election.
“The response from GRS indicates a willingness to collaborate solely with PH, rejecting any association with BN led by Umno or Datuk Bung Mokhtar. This was quickly acknowledged by the PKR president, who stated that Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor has been empowered to lead discussions among GRS, PN, and BN, further intensifying pressure on the leadership of the eight GRS components: PGRS, PBS, Star, SAPP, Usno, PCS, PHRS, and LDP,” Kanul remarked.
He noted that the dissolution of the Sabah DUN remains uncertain as PH leaders are reportedly pressuring GRS and BN to commit to not opposing PH candidates in 20 DUN seats, regardless of the circumstances.
“As BN and GRS continue to struggle to agree on a ‘reunion’ due to mutual animosity, some GRS members have proposed the dissolution of the DUN at the end of July, coinciding with a favorable atmosphere following the conferment of state honors like SPDK and PGDK to around 100 recipients.
“If the DUN is dissolved in July, it is highly likely that elections will be held in September 2025. This means the current GRS government will miss the opportunity to present its ‘State Budget Proposal,’ which is typically done every November.
“However, if the dissolution date is postponed to allow the State Budget to serve as a sweetener for voters, there is no guarantee it will create a ‘feel-good mood’ among the people of Sabah, especially as the state grapples with numerous issues such as corruption allegations against GRS leaders, poor road conditions, and shortages of water and electricity, alongside a lack of public confidence,” he stated.
According to Kanul’s observations, attempts by certain parties to enhance the government’s image through the announcement that Sabah has been selected by a firm to receive the IBR Asean Excellence Award, recognizing it as the ‘Most Outstanding State’ a few days ago, have failed to meet expectations and have instead become the subject of ridicule on social media, filled with comments belittling the GRS-PH and International Business Review (IBR) collaboration. _(Please check the comments from netizens).
Meanwhile, the school holidays from September 13 to September 21, 2025, may provide useful hints regarding the timing of the dissolution.”
