Saifuddin: Election showed Sabahans preferred local parties aligned with federal govt

KULIM: The results of the 17th Sabah state election has indicated that Sabahans favour a local party aligned with the federal government.

Unity government joint election director Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the outcome — which saw Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and its partners edge out Warisan — reflected strong “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment.

However, he said voters ultimately backed Sabah-based parties seen as friendly to Putrajaya.

“When we analysed the data further, we found that whenever the two Sabah-based parties (GRS nd Warisan) went head-to-head, GRS emerged the biggest winner.

“In 52 state constituencies where GRS and Warisan contested against each other, GRS recorded clear victories.

“The message from Sabahans is clear: yes, Sabah for Sabahans, but the Sabah party they chose is one that works well with the federal government,” he told reporters after opening a Back to School Aid programme here today.

Saifuddin described the outcome as a broader victory for the unity government, saying that unity mattered more than individual party gains.

“Yes, for PH, we didn’t win much, but what is most important is that unity wins,” he added.

In the Nov 29 election, GRS won 29 of the seats it contested, with Warisan securing 25 and Barisan Nasional six.

Other seats were won by independents, Upko, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Perikatan Nasional, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat and Pakatan Harapan.

A total of 1,148,476 voters cast their ballots, representing a turnout of 64.35 per cent.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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