Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak stressed that Sabah’s political approach should be anchored on strategic cooperation, differing from Barisan Nasional’s (BN) proposal to contest solo at the national level.
He said BN’s suggestion to go it alone in the upcoming General Election (GE), as stated by its President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, should be viewed within the context of a national strategy.
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According to him, such an approach may not be suitable for all states, particularly Sabah, which has a distinct political landscape.
In Peninsular Malaysia, he noted, the solo strategy has its rationale amid increasingly complex multi-cornered contests.
“In such a scenario, BN needs to strengthen its own identity while maintaining flexibility to cooperate in order to avoid clashes and vote-splitting,” he said in a statement.
However, Salleh stressed that Sabah’s political reality is markedly different from that of the peninsula.
The former Kota Belud MP pointed out that the state’s politics are centred on local coalitions such as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which have proven dominant based on the last state election results.
“The state election results clearly show that local parties continue to play a central role in shaping Sabah’s political direction,” he said.
In this context, he opined that Umno is not suited to adopt a solo approach in Sabah.
He added that such a move carries significant risks, including vote fragmentation and direct clashes with its own allies in the State Government.
“This would not only weaken the party’s position but could also undermine existing political stability,” he said.
He also reminded that Umno is currently part of the Sabah Government.
As such, he said priority should be given to maintaining cooperation and strengthening power-sharing arrangements.
“The main focus should remain on Sabah’s development agenda and the welfare of its people,” he added.
Salleh emphasised that political stability is key to ensuring sustained development in the state.
He said any approach that could disrupt existing cooperation must be carefully evaluated.
“In conclusion, in Sabah, cooperation is not an option but a strategic necessity,” he said.
