By Remy Majangkim
KOTA KINABALU: Sowing Seeds of Politics: UPKO’s Choices and the Five-Year Harvest
Politics, much like agriculture, is a discipline of patience, foresight, and accountability.
The decisions made today are seeds planted in the soil of public trust, and their fruits will only be revealed at harvest time — the next election, five years down the road.
For Ewon Benedick and UPKO, the choice to contest independently and later align with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is not merely a tactical maneuver; it is a seed whose growth will be judged by the people of Sabah.
Remaining in opposition would have been akin to planting a seed of integrity.
By standing apart from GRS, UPKO could have cultivated an image of independence, a tree that grows strong because it does not lean on others for support.
Such a harvest might yield credibility and voter loyalty, especially among those who value principle over convenience.
Yet, the soil of opposition is often rocky. Without access to resources or influence, the fruits of this path may be limited, leaving UPKO vulnerable to irrelevance.
Conversely, joining the government is like sowing in fertile ground. Coalition politics provide water and sunlight — access to development funds, policymaking influence, and federal alignment through Pakatan Harapan.
The harvest here could be abundant, with tangible benefits for Sabah’s people. But fertile soil can also breed weeds. If voters perceive UPKO’s move as opportunistic, the harvest may be tainted, yielding mistrust rather than gratitude.
A third path lies in selective sowing — acting as a swing player, supporting government initiatives that benefit Sabah while opposing those that undermine its principles.
This is a field of mixed crops, offering both leverage and risk. The harvest may be diverse, but voters could struggle to discern UPKO’s true identity, questioning whether the party stands firmly for its ideals or merely shifts with the wind.
In the end, the wisdom of politics is simple: what is sown today will be harvested tomorrow. The alliances forged, the promises made, and the principles upheld will all be tested when the people return to the ballot box.
For UPKO, the challenge is to ensure that the seeds planted now grow into a harvest of trust, stability, and progress — not disappointment.
The people of Sabah will be the ultimate farmers, deciding whether the crop is worth keeping or uprooting.
