KOTA KINABALU: A social activist believes that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government bloc actually “lost” to the opposition bloc, which includes Warisan, Pakatan Harapan, and STAR, during the 2018 state election.
Salman Nurillah stated that although some leaders supporting the ruling party attempt to portray that Warisan’s president, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, used backdoor methods to become the chief minister after the 2018 state election, the undeniable fact remains that the BN government bloc won 29 seats while the opposition bloc secured 31, including 2 seats won by STAR.
He noted that STAR was not a member of BN at that time and did not express any intention to join the BN bloc before the voting day of the 2020 state election; thus, technically, STAR is still considered part of the opposition bloc.
“Therefore, the results of the 2018 state election clearly indicate that the BN bloc lost and could not form a government independently.
“However, some parties are still trying to hide—or avoid highlighting—this defeat, instead boasting about the victory persevering after 2STAR assemblymen switched allegiance to the government bloc,” he mentioned in a recent social media.
Salman added that although the Federal Constitution does not prevent any assemblyman from joining or switching parties at that time in line with democratic principles, it is also undeniable that BN was the first to lure 2 STAR assemblymen to form a government until the state BN chairman was sworn in as chief minister.
Following this, Salman stated that the UPKO Supreme Council, which is part of BN then, reportedly held an emergency meeting to discuss the party’s direction.
“According to newspaper reports, the UPKO Supreme Council then decided to exit the BN coalition and agreed to form a government in Sabah with the opposition bloc led by Warisan,” he said.
While upholding Shafie’s appointment as the Chief Minister of Sabah at that time, Salman stated that the appointment was made in accordance with constitutional provisions and not through backdoor means.
“What is clear and should be accepted, albeit bitterly, is that the BN bloc lost in the 2018 state election…. We should be gentlemen and accept the people’s decision with an open heart and not politicise the 2018 state election issue,” he said.
In Warisan’s efforts to rectify the chaotic situation upon taking over the administration of the Sabah state government at that time, the world (including Sabah) was struck by COVID-19, which hindered the government from implementing the planned agenda at that time.
“When the COVID issue began to subside, suddenly there were efforts to buy off Warisan assembly members to switch sides, which led DSP Shafie, as Chief Minister, to choose to dissolve the DUN and return the mandate to the people of Sabah as a last resort to avoid ongoing political manoeuvring. The rest is history for us to learn from and reflect upon,” he said.
He mentioned that in the 2025 state election, “We leave it to the wisdom of the people to determine the fate of the contesting parties, including Warisan, which will operate independently if they truly desire change.”
