KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Sabah STAR have questioned the 39-day gap between the dissolution of the state assembly and nomination day, calling it unnecessary and unprecedented.
SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the 53-day period from dissolution to polling almost reaches the 60-day maximum allowed under the state constitution — the longest since the timeframe was shortened from 90 days in the 1980s.
“The long period of 39 days from the dissolution of the legislative assembly to nomination day is unprecedented in Sabah’s political history ever since the maximum period from dissolution to polling was reduced from 90 days to 60 days in the 1980s,” he said in a statement Thursday (Oct 16).
“The period from dissolution to polling is 53 days, stretching almost to the maximum 60 days allowed in the Sabah Constitution,” he added.
He said the unusually long wait suggests that peninsula-based parties, mainly PKR, need more time to resolve internal disputes and candidacy rebellions.
Yong, who is a former Sabah chief minister, also speculated that federal leaders, including the Prime Minister, may have wanted to delay the state election until after the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26 and 27.
He cautioned that with the government now in caretaker mode, the private sector would likely hold off investments until the elections are over, which could hurt Sabah’s economy.
“With the Sabah government now being merely a caretaker government and the private sector putting itself ‘on hold’ until the elections are over, this two-month wait will dampen economic activities,” he said, adding that the long gap appeared to compromise the state’s interests.
Yong said while the lengthy campaign period might worsen infighting within Pakatan Harapan, particularly PKR and DAP, it also gives local-based parties time to fine-tune their machinery and strengthen unity.
He added that SAPP plans to use the extended period to reach voters directly and overcome challenges such as limited access to mainstream media and financial constraints.
“SAPP will have to rely on local networking, local knowledge and meeting local people directly with a personal touch,” he said.
“It is the personal touch with eye-to-eye contact that can connect people and show sincerity in our struggle. Federal Ministers flying in and out of Sabah with their local proxies are likely to be received as merely tourists on a vote fishing trip,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said he was curious about the long gap before nomination, although the party has no issue with the polling date.
“We have no problem with the dates, but why is the nomination date still so far away?” he said when contacted.
The Election Commission on Thursday announced that nomination for the 17th Sabah state election will be held on Nov 15, with polling set for Nov 29.
