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KOTA KINABALU: Some Sabah residents who are ready to vote in state elections were shocked by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s claims that he has a parliamentary majority to form a new Malaysian federal government, but maintained that they will cast their votes based on in local affairs.
On Wednesday, Anwar announced that he had obtained a “strong, formidable and convincing majority” of members of Parliament (MPs) to overthrow the current government headed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin has since said that Anwar needs to show that he has sufficient support to form a new government, while claiming that he remains the country’s “legal prime minister.”
The fight for federal power comes as the campaign for the Sabah state elections reaches its final days, before voters in the state of Borneo head to the polls on Saturday (September 26).
The pioneers of close elections are the Warisan Plus coalition and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
Voting for the Sabah state elections falls on September 26, 2020 (Photo: Bernama)
The current Warisan Plus coalition is made up of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), the state-based United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (UPKO), as well as the national parties Pakatan Harapan (PH) Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Confianza Nacional (Trust).
Meanwhile, the opposition state alliance GRS is made up of Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) and other state parties such as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
Danny Estermit, a resident of the Api-Api constituency where PKR candidate Chistina Liew is the incumbent, told CNA that Anwar’s announcement surprised him, but that he would not change his mind on how he will vote on Saturday.
“I think we were all surprised when Anwar announced out of nowhere that he now has enough seats to overthrow Muhyiddin. But for Saturday, I will focus on electing a state representative, someone who will address the concerns on the ground. I’m not overly concerned with federal issues, ”he said.
Estermit added that there was uncertainty as to whether Warisan would support Anwar’s offer, so it was best to wait and see what happens after the state elections.
“Datuk Seri Shafie has not said openly whether he is behind Anwar or whether he supports Muhyiddin as prime minister, so we prefer not to speculate for now,” the 27-year-old added.
READ: Anwar calls for parliamentary majority: What are the possible implications for the Malaysian political scene?
Heritage leader Shafie Apdal speaking at a youth event near Kota Kinabalu. (Photo: Sabah Heritage Party)
Shafie Apdal, the leader of the Warisan Plus coalition and the current chief minister of Sabah, was silent when asked to comment on whether he supported Anwar.
Speaking to reporters after meeting young people in Likas on Thursday morning, Shafie said: “I don’t want to respond (to Anwar’s claim). I am very focused on the state elections. We only have a day or two left. I am here to win an election in Sabah. “
“We want support for Warisan in Sabah,” he added.
“FOCUS ON US”
One of those attending the event, Mr. Rozali Johar, a 21-year-old Likas resident who will vote for the first time, told CNA that he was pleasantly surprised by Mr. Anwar’s claim, as he believed that the government of PH is the legitimate coalition to lead Malaysia, as determined by the people during the 2018 general elections.
Rozali said: “I was thrilled when I saw Anwar say that he has enough MPs to overthrow the Muhyiddin government. People chose PH (in 2018), so PH should be reset. “
He was also hopeful that Shafie would publicly endorse Anwar, perhaps after the state elections are over.
“But for Saturday, I will vote for Warisan, because of what the party represents and how he is willing to help young people and address environmental and labor issues,” Rozali added.
Meanwhile, a UMNO supporter in Sulaman, Mr. Tokimin Hazziq, noted that Mr. Anwar had made two similar takeover attempts and failed both times.
“I don’t really listen to what Anwar says, he’s said all this before and it never came to anything,” Tokimin said.
The 54-year-old acknowledged that he was also surprised when UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Wednesday that many UMNO and BN MPs have voiced their support for Anwar to form a new government.
That’s strange because none of them have publicly admitted (this). He wouldn’t take what Anwar said seriously because it’s unclear who’s backing him.
“Even Warisan or Mahathir’s party have not said they support him. Although it is confusing, but for Saturday, let’s ignore peninsular politics and focus on ourselves, “he added.
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his allies who were removed from Muhyiddin’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia have announced the formation of a new party called Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.
“I AM STILL HERE AS PRIME MINISTER”
Mr. Muhyiddin was also in Sabah to campaign on behalf of the GRS candidates. On Wednesday night, he delivered a speech in Luyang to a few hundred residents, highlighting that Malaysia adopts a democratic parliamentary system that is based on the country’s Constitution.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin speaking with Sabah residents on September 23, 2020 (Photo: Prime Minister’s Office)
“I am still here as Prime Minister … Every Malaysian, regardless of origin, is important to me. Because I care about all of you, ”he said.
He arrived in Sabah hours after announcing that the federal government would provide financial aid worth RM10 billion (US $ 2.4 billion) to further help Malaysians overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, under the “Kita Prihatin” scheme. .
Dr Romzi Ationg, a political lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, said the announcement could be a “game changer” for Sabah’s state elections as many voters sought help to overcome financial difficulties.
On the other hand, he said Anwar’s claims about a federal parliamentary majority could encourage voters sitting on the fence to support Warisan Plus, as the coalition could be part of the federal government in the near future.
“The prospect of Warisan being a key component of both the state and federal government could be encouraging, while supporting GRS for the purpose of having a synchronized federal and state government could be seen as irrelevant now,” said Dr. Romzi.
