KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak has emphasised two fundamental principles that are crucial in discussions regarding seat allocation among coalition partners.
He stated that these principles include incumbency and seat swapping, which are frequently utilised as guidelines for this purpose.
Salleh, who serves as the treasurer for Sabah BN, explained that incumbency refers to the priority given to the party that won a seat in the previous election to contest it again.
“This approach helps prevent overlaps and ensures stability within the coalition,” he mentioned in his recent Facebook post.
The Usukan assemblyman noted that seat swapping takes place when two parties agree to exchange seats for strategic purposes — such as enabling a stronger candidate to run or aligning strengths with local requirements.
“In situations where an elected representative changes parties, the principle remains straightforward: the seat is regarded as belonging to the original party, not the individual.
“Nevertheless, if the representative continues to enjoy strong local support, the coalition may contemplate an exception through mutual agreement,” he added.
Salleh asserted that seats previously held by opposition parties or independents are deemed open seats.
“These can be negotiated with greater flexibility based on party presence, candidate strength, and potential for victory.
“Such seats are also frequently utilised in seat-swapping arrangements,” he further stated.
Salleh said that these principles lay the groundwork for collaboration between BN, PH, and their allied partners (BN-PH+++) as they approach the upcoming election as a unified, coordinated, and forward-thinking team.
