Political analysts have advised the DAP to prioritize urban constituencies in the upcoming Sabah state election to prevent straining its alliance with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). Contesting rural seats held by GRS incumbents could jeopardize the unity of the Pakatan Harapan-GRS coalition, they warn.
Bilcher Bala, an analyst from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, highlighted the risk of friction if DAP challenges GRS strongholds, particularly in rural areas. He pointed to a recent proposal by the Tenom branches of DAP and PKR to nominate former Tenom MP Noorita Sual for the Kemabong seat, a long-standing stronghold of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) vice-president Rubin Balang, as a potential flashpoint.
“Rubin is a deeply rooted local figure, and any challenge against him may be perceived as insensitive to local political dynamics,” Bilcher told FMT. “If DAP contests seats held by GRS incumbents, it could be seen as a breach of cooperation, undermining coalition unity.”
Fellow Universiti Malaysia Sabah analyst Lee Kuok Tiung echoed this sentiment, urging DAP to focus on urban constituencies where competition is fiercer. He noted Rubin’s strong personal influence in Kemabong, demonstrated by his victory as an independent candidate in the 2020 state election. Rubin has represented Kemabong in the state assembly since 1994, except in 2018 when he was not fielded by Barisan Nasional (BN). After winning as an independent in 2020, he joined PGRS, further solidifying his local support.
Last week, DAP secretary-general and Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook announced that the party had identified at least two rural constituencies in Sabah’s interior for potential candidacy, alongside the urban Tanjung Aru seat. According to Bernama, DAP aims to contest between eight and ten seats in the election. Loke emphasized that the party’s interest in rural seats is grounded in its past experience, such as its previous contest in Bingkor, rather than being an experimental move.
Challenges in Rural Constituencies
Syahrudin Awang Ahmad, a researcher at Borneo Geo-Politics & Electoral Studies, cautioned that rural seats remain a formidable challenge for DAP. He referenced the party’s significant defeat in Bingkor during the 2020 state election, where DAP’s Peter Saili, running under the Warisan banner, lost to STAR’s Robert Tawik by over 5,000 votes. “Rural constituencies are dominated by local, ethnic-based parties and are less receptive to DAP’s national messaging,” Syahrudin explained. He also noted that DAP’s limited grassroots network in rural areas further hampers its prospects.
Balancing Party Image and Strategy
Despite these challenges, Syahrudin stressed that DAP cannot entirely overlook rural constituencies if it seeks to strengthen its image as a multiracial party. “Focusing solely on urban areas could reinforce perceptions that DAP is primarily a Chinese urban party, limiting its long-term growth in Sabah,” he said. He suggested that DAP strategically target rural seats with weaker incumbents or those where direct clashes with GRS can be avoided to balance coalition harmony with its broader ambitions.
