By Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto
TAWAU: In the increasingly heated political climate of Sabah leading up to the 17th State Election (PRN), a term frequently mentioned by political leaders is ‘friendly contest’.
This term emerged following the announcement that Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest against Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in several seats, even though GRS is expected to establish an official collaboration with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
However, the question arises: is there truly a meaning of ‘friendly’ in any form of political competition?
In the context of electoral reality, every confrontation will lead to a struggle for votes and will undoubtedly create divisions among supporters.
According to political analyst Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto, ‘friendly contest’ may exist as a form of political rhetoric to maintain a harmonious image among government parties at the federal level, but its impact at the grassroots level is different.
“In areas with a majority of Bumiputera Sabah, the clash between BN and GRS candidates, even if described as ‘friendly’, will still split the government block votes.
This approach is also seen as beneficial to the opposition, particularly parties like WARISAN, which is expected to emerge as an alternative for voters tired of the power dynamics within the government coalition.
“WARISAN, which is viewed as consistent in its stance as an opposition, has the potential to gain political advantage from the confusion and disagreements within the government block.”
Zaki also added that the people of Sabah traditionally lean towards parties that demonstrate a clear stance and do not overly rely on external coalitions.
In this regard, WARISAN is capable of tapping into Sabah nationalism sentiments and positioning itself as a genuine local voice, in contrast to the ‘temporary’ coalition between GRS, PH, and BN.
The situation becomes more complex when GRS chooses to align with PH, a coalition that has historically been a rival.
