Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are likely to clash in several seats in the upcoming Sabah polls, a prospect analysts warn could put their partnership at the federal level under strain during the campaign.
Bilcher Bala and Syahruddin Awang Ahmad, both from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), agreed that these clashes were “almost certain” following signals from a state Umno leader demanding traditional party seats that were agreed to be allocated to PH in previous negotiations.
One such seat is Gum-Gum, which BN previously held but lost to Warisan in a six-cornered contest in the last Sabah election in September 2020. At the time, PH aligned itself with Warisan, the party led by Shafie Apdal.
“The likelihood of clashes is very real,” Bilcher said. He added that such a scenario could erode grassroots confidence and voter trust, as it would be seen as a sign of wavering principles.
PH, BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are allies at the federal level, but BN is in the opposition in Sabah.
PH has reached separate pacts with both coalitions, but GRS and BN have refused to work together and said they are prepared to clash with each other in some seats.
Syahruddin warned that disagreements in several seats risk souring BN–PH ties, especially if personal attacks and sensitive issues surface during the campaign.
“This is not just a contest between candidates but between party machinery,” he said.
Yesterday, PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that negotiations with BN were in the final stage, with only two to three seats requiring further discussion.
His remarks followed calls by Libaran Umno chief Suhaimi Nasir last week for Sabah BN to reclaim the Gum-Gum seat, which was initially set aside for PH under earlier arrangements.
Gum-Gum, along with Sungai Manila and Sungai Sibuga, are three state seats under the Libaran parliamentary constituency.
On Sept 13, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar launched the party’s election machinery for Gum-Gum, signalling PH’s readiness to contest the seat in the state polls, which is expected to be held by the end of the year.
Still, both Bilcher and Syahruddin believe post-election cooperation between BN and PH is highly likely, given Sabah’s fluid political landscape since GE14 and the 2020 state election.
Syahruddin further expressed confidence that Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as chairmen of PH and BN respectively, and as partners in the unity government in Putrajaya, would push for reconciliation in Sabah once the state polls have concluded.
“This has become the dominant trend in Malaysian politics, where ideology is set aside in favour of stability or building a governing majority,” Syahruddin said.
Bilcher added that even if contests occur, post-election cooperation remains possible, especially if no single bloc secures a clear majority.
The current Sabah legislative assembly’s term expires on Nov 11 and an election must be held within 60 days of its dissolution.
