Calls for the coming Sabah state election to deliver a government made up only of local parties have drawn caution from political analysts, who say the move could harm the state’s long-term interests.
Autonomy appeal but federal ties matter more
Awang Azman Awang Pawi from Universiti Malaya acknowledged that the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment carries strong emotional weight, touching on identity and greater autonomy.
Yet he warned that shutting out peninsula-based parties completely could backfire.
“Sabah is in need of integration, not isolation,” he told FMT. “The slogan is a political narrative, not a blueprint for development.”
He stressed that Sabah’s progress still depends heavily on good relations with the federal government and access to its funds.
A state government formed solely by local parties does not automatically bring more autonomy or faster growth, he added.
Risk of weaker bargaining power
Awang Azman pointed out that Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 would be advanced more quickly through cooperation between state and federal leaders.
An all-Sabah lineup, he said, might struggle at the negotiating table in Putrajaya, leading to smaller development allocations or delays in roads, schools and other projects.
“Sabah still needs federal funds. A total rejection of peninsula-based parties may weaken Sabah’s leverage for funds,” he said.
He also noted that local parties have often suffered from defections, leadership fights and fragile coalitions, making a purely Sabahan government inherently unstable.
Tougher talks on revenue share
James Chin of the University of Tasmania agreed that a Sabah-only administration would create problems for the federal government.
“A Sabahan-only government would push much harder for the full 40% revenue share. That would make talks with Putrajaya much harder for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.
The analysts were responding to a roundtable held on Saturday where Sabah elders and leaders urged voters to treat the Nov 29 election as a referendum on forming a government made up only of local parties.
Among the participants were Parti Bersatu Sabah founder Pairin Kitingan, Upko founder Bernard Dompok, former chief justice Richard Malanjum, Upko president Ewon Benedick and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffrey Kitingan.
