LETTER:The economy and bread-and-butter issues are sure to dominate the Sabah state election. Recent data from the Department of Statistics (DOSM) revealed that Sabah recorded the lowest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate of 1.5 per cent in 2018. Just the year before, Sabah enjoyed a GDP growth of 8.2 per cent, which is the highest in the country.
Although the Warisan-led state government had promised to tackle the problems of low industrialisation and lack of highly-paid job opportunities, efforts to fully introduce relevant industrial policies and socio-economic reforms have not been realised in the relatively short period of its administration.
Sabah's traditional dependency on commodity exports didn't help when prices fluctuated in the 22 months of Warisan's rule. Autonomy as a long-standing issue will make a comeback at the election too.
Sabah, like their East Malaysian counterpart Sarawak, yearn for greater autonomy and the full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The previous federal government had formed steering and technical committees under the overall supervision of the Special Cabinet Committee to address issues under MA63.
The Special Council to Review Implementation of MA63 under the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) government recently endorsed the implementation of 17 out of the 21 items tabled to the Special Cabinet Committee. The remaining four unresolved matters include oil royalties and cash payments for petroleum, as well as minerals and oilfields.
Due to the perception of Sabah's economic performance, former political big-wigs and strongmen such as Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, Tan Sri Harris Salleh, Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Said Keruak, and Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia have indicated interest to throw their hat into the electoral ring.
Others have expressed interest in contesting as well. These include former civil servants alongside retired businessmen and architects who want to present alternative solutions to Sabah's perennial problems.
In a poll conducted by EMIR Research from the last quarter of 2019, under the rubric of the "Rise of the Third Force Movement", it was found out that 17 per cent out of 1,992 respondents would vote for an independent if the next general election were to take place in the near term.
In the context of the Sabah state election, the foray of former big-timers and fresh independents aren't expected to cause major surprises. But, the independents might still be irritants in terms of splitting votes for either Warisan Plus or the Sabah Bersatu-Umno-led coalition.
In the final analysis, the outcome is not a given. All parties are bracing for a tough battle ahead under the new normal.
JASON LOH
EMIR Research
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times