[ad_1]
KOTA KINABALU: Political analysts have predicted that the new government of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will have a difficult path in keeping the coalition together after its victory in the state elections last week.
They say that potential infighting, inter-party rivalry and strong personalities within the GRS coalition government, which comprises Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional and PBS, are among the triggers for it all to fall apart.
Arnold Puyok, from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, said Tuesday’s episode involving Sabah BN head Bung Moktar Radin, who was initially sworn in as state minister for housing and local government, but later received the portfolio from the works ministry by the new chief minister, Hajiji Noor, was a case. o’clock.
“It seems that this is a difficult start for GRS … it was not a good start for the new government,” he told FMT.
“If they can survive for the next six months, it is a real achievement. Let’s see if they can fix their differences within the first six months. “
Just hours after the swearing-in, Hajiji announced that Bung would be exchanging ministries with Sabah PPBM Deputy Chief Masidi Manjun.
When asked if there was any initial discussion about the distribution of Cabinet posts between the parties, Hajiji confirmed that there was, but that the “minor” change was due to the appearance of “extra work”.
Sources had previously said that Bung was unhappy about the allocation of seats to Sabah BN, which had helped GRS secure 38 seats in Saturday’s election.
They claimed that Bung had left abruptly after the swearing in of the new prime minister and three senior deputy ministers in Istana Negeri.
Bridget Welsh from the University of Nottingham (Malaysia) said that GRS was a new coalition and that the partners would have to learn to work together, one way or another.
“There are strong personalities, styles and different expectations. The numbers are safe but not completely safe, as all it takes is for one party to leave to destabilize GRS.
“Federal political instability will cast a shadow over Sabah and this is the main challenge that lies ahead: the interplay of federal and state political uncertainties,” he told FMT.
Socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya believes that Tuesday’s episode was only “the tip of the iceberg.”
He said the friction would continue and be reflected in jostling for positions not only at the state level but also at the grassroots.
“This will continue in the distribution of positions such as town halls and town halls, and even in the distribution of projects from large to few undertakings such as lawn mowing and drainage maintenance.
“GRS will become even more unstable and fragile when it comes to the distribution of parliamentary seats, considering that we are heading to the general elections,” he said.
Of the 38 seats won by GRS, 17 were secured by PN, 14 by BN, and seven by PBS.
Warisan Plus won 29 seats while its PKR allies won two and Upko one. The remaining three seats were for independent candidates, but they are understood to be on the side of GRS.
