KOTA KINABALU: The possibility of a Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance securing a parliamentary majority has sparked renewed discussion about the political clout of Sabah and Sarawak.
Parti Bangsa Malaysia president Datuk Larry Sng suggested that BN and PN could realistically achieve a simple majority in the next general election, potentially diminishing the kingmaker status traditionally held by Borneo-based parties.
In a brief interview this morning with BFM Radio, Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal expressed disagreement with this view.
SHAFIE: Well, I think the reality is that one must also understand how the country was formed. And the formation of Malaysia was because of how the country was. I mean, coming from the eastern part of the country, like Sabah and Sarawak, we were bonded. Bonded by, not because of race, not because of the number of seats, was there as well, but because of the needs coming from all sections of society in this country.
Peninsula, they have rulers; we don’t have rulers; we have governors, you know, and all that has been laid out under MP63 is quite clearly spelt out on the rights and the needs of the people in this country. So basically, when come elections, people may claim that, you know, we don’t need Sabah and Sarawak, but we must also realise we’re in one country anyway. And you just look at the United Kingdom as an example of it.
Can you imagine England can be formed in parliament, ruling party without the participations coming from members of parliament, Scotland and Wales as well, in spite of the numbers are there. But I think if a person realises how important building a nation is, it’s not because of numbers. It’s not because of anything else, race and religion; it’s because of needs.
I mean, how can people garner support coming for elections if you just combine, ‘Oh, this is my party, this is the need of the party,’ but how about the need of the people? Are we going to take that into consideration in the long run? It is because the needs of the people are there. That’s how we are able to extend the trust. So I believe this coming election, I don’t think, in spite of them having the number to form the government, it’s not going to be an easy task.
I mean, they might be able to secure one, two, or three like that, but when you, two-thirds, it’s definitely not there. And on top of that, that’s why we’ve been demanding all this while, what had been agreed upon, one third of the seats allocation must be granted to the two states, Sabah and Sarawak, which was a goal when Singapore was out. So just with that in mind, because we did hear from some reporting that he was concerned that in a hung parliament situation, that the influence that Sabah and Sarawak has had on federal politics over the last few years, that might not be the same, because if someone can pull together federal coalition and reach the simple majority to establish government without the need of pulling together that many parties, the need for bargaining or the bargaining power will reduce.
BFM: Does that prospect concern you as a party from Sabah?
SHAFIE: Of course it concerns us, but we are building a nation here, I don’t think, because one also must realise that if that is sort of like ideas and opinions, trying to mould the Malaysians in Sabah and Sarawak, well, just like what I have done in the last elections, DAP zero and PKR only one, and no other party have secured a number that enabled them to form a government. But what is important, one also realises, is how commanding they are in Sarawak, and then we have combined force; we have 56. So, I mean, that is a substantial number of people in votes and seats numbers a day, which I think the questions of not getting us, that is way out, I believe, and it’s not so easy because I’ve been in politics for the last 38 years.
I’ve never seen a very divided kind of political party in the Peninsular. You have Perikatan Nasional, you have UMNO, you have PAS, you have AMANAH, you have PKR, and you have PAS. These are very dominant Malay parties.
BFM: With that in mind, how is your party responding to this evolving political landscape? Have Borneo parties, including yours, been approached by either Barisan or Perikatan?
SHAFIE: Well, they have been able to; they have been trying to approach us, but we made it clear to them. I mean, we have to be very consistent in our stance. You know, in Peninsular, we can work with any government to ensure that it’s for the country’s sake, but we look into it. What are the conditions that we need to impose? That’s why we spoke about what has been laid out in the federal constitution.
I mean, if we, as members of parliament, policy makers, we don’t subscribe, we don’t adhere to the federal constitution of the country, where do we go? We are building nations, not for a day, not for a month, but for generations to come. And the trust will not only be realised, you know, it will not be realised if we are not consistent with what has been spelled out in the constitution and the need of the people too. So of course it’s concerning quite a number of people, not only in, you call it, Sabah and Selawak, but surely I’m quite sure in Peninsular too, because I served UMNO 30 years.
Never have you seen a leader coming from that part of the area, Sabah and Selawak, serving the country for 30 years and also being a vice-president of UMNO. I know in and out, you know, I’ve been dealing with them from Mahathir, Doga Berawi, Najib, Mahyuddin, Kapal Singh, and Lim Kit Siang. I’ve been working with them.
I know how directly the politics are. But it’s not going to be an easy task for them to claim that, forget about Sabah and Selawak, we can form the government. You know, I don’t think so.
That sort of view, of course, they will be able to gather the support, but you know, it’s not going to be an easy task. I don’t think that sort of PN and PN will be able to secure 160-plus. You know that? That’s okay.
