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PAPAR: Sabah and Sarawak must emerge as an important bloc in determining the formation of the next Federal Government when elections are called for GE16, said Papar Member of Parliament Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

He said the current national political landscape shows no single party or coalition is able to form a stable government without the support of other parties, making the role of Sabah and Sarawak increasingly significant.

He said this situation has been evident the past general elections and reached its peak during GE15, when no coalition secured a simple majority on its own.

“The reality today is that the formation of a government requires cooperation among multiple parties. With about 56 parliamentary seats from Sabah and Sarawak, both regions have the potential to become a decisive bloc.

“The question now is how Sabah and Sarawak can leverage this advantage — whether to remain merely as complementary partners in government formation, as before, or to emerge as a strong bloc capable of setting the national agenda.

“Sarawak has shown an example through strong unity among local political parties but, unfortunately, the same approach has yet to be fully realised in Sabah.

“Therefore, we in Sabah must contest and win under a united local coalition of seats, similar to Sarawak,” he said.

Armizan who is also Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, was speaking at the “Program Sentuhan Kasih, Madani Rahmah Sales Program (PJRM) and Consumerism Advocacy at the compound area of SMK Pengalat, Saturday.

He was commenting on a statement by Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak on Facebook, that Sabah and Sarawak could form a strong Borneo bloc in the coming GE16.

Salleh had also said that Sabahans are not interested in the wrangle over Malay unity and the Malay supremacy (ketuanan Melayu) rhetoric among the parties there.

Sabah and Sarawak must be united and share a clear common agenda to ensure stability, development, the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), fair revenue sharing and the strengthening of state rights.

He said the situation in Sarawak is relatively simpler as most parties there are local-based, whereas the political landscape in Sabah is more complex and requires an appropriate and acceptable formula to safeguard the interests of the region.

Armizan, who is also the deputy secretary-general of GRS, said the results of previous Sabah state elections showed a tendency among the majority of voters to choose local parties.

He said they have clearly signalled their desire for strong local parties so that the state can stand as a solid political bloc.

“However, this public awareness has yet to be fully translated into unity and a common stance among Sabah’s political leaders. The people have spoken, but leaders have yet to act accordingly.” 

Armizan called on political leaders, particularly the younger generation, to take responsibility in responding to the people’s voice by strengthening cooperation and unity among local political parties.

He emphasised that the goal is not merely to form a strong political bloc, but to ensure that Sabah’s agenda and interests become among the core priorities of the future Federal Government.