Perikatan Nasional (PN) is closely monitoring Sabah’s ever-shifting political landscape, keeping the door open for potential collaborations while preparing to contest the upcoming state election independently, says its Sabah chairman, Ronald Kiandee.
Kiandee, who is also the vice-president of Bersatu, told FMT that while PN has initially decided to go solo, the fluid nature of Sabah politics means negotiations with other parties remain a possibility.
“For now, we’ve decided to move forward independently, but Sabah’s political scene is dynamic. We’re not closing the door to cooperation with any party,” he said.
Fluid Politics and Open Opportunities
Highlighting the rapid changes in Sabah’s political alliances, Kiandee pointed to recent shifts within the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition as an example. “Just last week, GRS had eight parties in its fold; now, it’s down to six. This shows how quickly things can change,” he noted. “PN is open to discussing partnerships with any party, whether or not they come to fruition.”
Strong Preparations for State Election
Commenting on PN’s readiness for the 17th Sabah State Election, Kiandee expressed confidence in the coalition’s groundwork. He confirmed that seat allocations among PN’s component parties have been largely finalised without disputes. The exact number of seats each party will contest will be announced soon by PN’s top leadership.
Kiandee also underscored PN’s strong track record in Sabah, noting that the coalition is no stranger to the state’s voters. “PN secured 17 state seats in the last election, and we’re confident in the support we’ve built,” he said.
Election Timeline and Context
The upcoming election, involving 73 state seats, follows the dissolution of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly announced by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor last Monday. The state is expected to hold its polls within the next 60 days.
About The Author
