14-CORNERED CONTEST FOR TULID SEAT REFLECTS SABAH'S FRAGILE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE - ANALYSTS

By Syed Iylia Hariz Al-Qadri Syed Izman

KOTA KINABALU,  Nov 17  (Bernama) -- The 14-cornered contest for the Tulid seat in the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN) is seen not only as the most intense battle, but also as a reflection of Sabah’s increasingly fragile political landscape.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Senior Fellow, Associate Professor Dr Bilcher Bala, said the intense contest for the Tulid seat—and in 21 other state constituencies that saw between 10 and 13 candidates—also reflects a voter sentiment inclined towards seeking new faces and alternatives.

“So when voters want to try someone new, everyone feels compelled to form their own party or contest independently,” he told Bernama today.

He added that perceptions that Tulid and many other constituencies remain underdeveloped have fuelled voter demand for leaders who are more vocal and assertive, thereby challenging the traditional dominance of major political parties.

However, Bilcher disagreed with the assumption that the large number of candidates in each seat reflects a healthy democracy, instead describing it as a political environment that is overly permissive and lacking clear direction.

“This is not a good democracy… this is unguided, undirected freedom. To me, this is an uncontrolled democracy,” he said.

Bilcher explained that vote splitting in Tulid and the other 21 constituencies with 10 to 13 candidates would be even more pronounced, with the eventual winner likely securing only a plurality rather than a majority due to the highly fragmented vote.

“This means no party or candidate will be able to command strong support… they will win by only a small margin, achieving just a slim majority,” he said.

This phenomenon was also acknowledged by Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, UiTM Sabah, Tony Paridi Bagang, who described Sabah’s political landscape as highly fluid and offering realistic opportunities for many new candidates.

“A fragmented political landscape will inevitably lead to split votes across many directions. This means even candidates with limited support can win through a plurality, not a majority. This perception of realistic winnability encourages more individuals and small parties to contest,” he said.

According to Tony, the intense contest in Tulid and 21 other state seats also reflects a unique dynamic, with many young and independent candidates entering the fray and disrupting the traditional advantages of incumbents who typically rely on grassroots networks as well as family and clan ties.

“Many Sabah leaders believe they possess strong grassroots machinery and deep local influence, but Tulid reflects a different dynamic. The entry of new and younger candidates disrupts the usual advantage of incumbency and intensifies competition,” he said.

Tony added that each interior constituency has its own political identity, and therefore, the pattern seen in Tulid cannot be used as a definitive indicator for the whole of Sabah.

“Each interior area has its own political dynamics and fluidity. Some constituencies may share similar characteristics, but not strong enough to serve as an absolute benchmark, as other factors—such as intra-ethnic competition—must also be considered,” he said.

The contenders for the Tulid seat include Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Datin Rufinah Pengeran, Vinson Rusikan of Parti Kebangsaan Sabah (PKS), Lucia Khing (Parti Warisan), Datuk Everitus Gungkit (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku- STAR) and Mohd Khairil Abdullah (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation - UPKO).

Others are Ancis@Rayner Francis Udog (Parti Impian Sabah - PIS), Jufina Dimis (Parti Rumpun Sabah) and Dr Aisat Ellik Igau Inggau (Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat-KDM).

Also vying for the Tulid seat are six independent candidates, namely Suman @ Sunsunah Yasambun, Clarence Carter Maraat, Edwin Laimin, Jordan Jude Ellron, Engah Sintan @ Dahlan Abdullah, and Lautis @ Laulis Anggang.

The Tulid seat, first contested in the 16th state election in 2020, has 16,551 registered voters. The incumbent, Flovia Ng from STAR, won the seat with a majority of 544 votes.

Polling for the 17th Sabah state election, which involves 73 state seats, is scheduled for Nov 29, with early voting set for Nov 25.

For the latest updates on the 17th Sabah state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/sabah/index.php

-- BERNAMA