Sabah politics: It’s all in the crowd size

By Luke Rintod of FMT

Will Jeffrey Kitingan quit Star party if his other
option Parti Cinta Sabah gets a late approval in
time for the 13th general election?

KOTA KINABALU: If Sabah’s turbulent political history is an indication, then today could go down as yet another day when a dramatic event set Sabah on a new course.

This one takes place at the main hall of the famous Hongkod Koisaan, the headquarters of the influential Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), when maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan jointly launches a new party – the Sabah chapter of the Sarawak Reform Party (Star) – in the state to push for political and social reform.

Kitingan is the chairman of the Sabah chapter and according to the organising chairman of the launch, Awang Ahmad Shah, Sabah Star will be ‘fully autonomous”.

Always a colourful figure, Kitingan has issued an open invitation to all Sabahans to the launch and speculations has it that a sizeable crowd could gather to hear what he has to say about the state’s political future.

Those allied to Kitingan and his NGO, the United Borneo Front (UBF) expect several thousand to attend the launching.

Guandee Kohoi who heads the secretariat of Star’s Sabah chapter expects the 5,000 capacity hall to be packed.

The size of the crowd will signal if the state’s new political vehicle will be a real force in the coming general election. If the crowds spill outside, then it will be a sign that Star could win some seats, observers said.

Optimistic Kitingan

Kitingan himself is optimistic of the steps he is taking.

“Everywhere we have (held) our Borneo tea parties, people were asking me which party to vote in the coming election and now we have our own party, so see you there on Friday,” he told his friends ahead of the launching.

He is confident Star will make an impact in the elections, but placed a caveat on predictions.

“We have to work out with other opposition parties…” he said referring to a possible alliance with Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and possibly Sabah People’s Front (SPF).

But many are skeptical of the ability of the state’s opposition leaders agreeing to come to a compromise to allow an equitable seat arrangement among themselves.

Already, SAPP has indicated it plans to contest in 40 out of the 60 state constituencies in Sabah albeit before Kitingan announced Star’s entry into Sabah.

SPF has also said it would put up candidates in all the 60 seats at stake.

Star is positioning itself to contest in almost all the Sabah state seats and Kitingan, it is understood, is also eyeing the 11 Kadazandusun and mixed Parliamentary seats.

It is understood too that Kitingan’s plan is to enable Usno revivalists to take over another party, failing which they should use a common symbol, the party’s nine pointed star.

“Greed and selfishness have always been the trademark of Sabah’s politicians, and Dr Jeffrey (Kitingan) knows this fact,” said an ardent observer who wished to be known only as Greg.

“More often than not, Sabah politicians succumb to personal agenda rather than the state agenda. Look at the downfall of Usno, Berjaya and even PBS, it was all marred by personal agendas one way or another,” he said.

Will history repeat itself?

Any statement or move by any Sabah leader will be closely scrutinised during the next few days and weeks.

One particular politician under the microscope is Upko’s deputy president, Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing. He is said to have told close friends he would leave Barisan Nasional before the general election.

Umno’s own kingmaker in the state, Lajim Ukin, is said to be unhappy with his current party.

If Lajim steps in to helm SPF, he would definitely fight with vigour in many Muslim areas especially in those considered to be still genuinely Sabahan Muslim areas. These areas still form the backbone of Umno in the large state.

At the back of all this is Kitingan’s other would be political vehicle, Parti Cinta Sabah which is still waiting for Registrar of Societies approval.

Kitingan could be caught in a conundrum should the federal government suddenly grant it approval in time for the elections. Would he then leave Star?

There has been a precedence to this scenario closer to home for him.

His elder brother, deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin, currently president of PBS and an ally of Umno in Sabah had in 1985 joined another party, Pasok, because he had given up on the idea that the PBS would be approved by the Registrar of Society.

When the approval came, Pairin abruptly left Pasok and went on to win that year’s election with PBS. Will history repeat itself?