Kota kinabalu: The 14-cornered contest for the Tulid seat in the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN) is being perceived as not only the most intense electoral battle but also a reflection of Sabah’s increasingly fragile political landscape.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Senior Fellow, Associate Professor Dr. Bilcher Bala, pointed out that the fierce competition for the Tulid seat-and in 21 other state constituencies with 10 to 13 candidates each-demonstrates a voter sentiment inclined toward seeking new faces and alternatives. “When voters want to try someone new, everyone feels compelled to form their own party or contest independently,” he noted.
Dr. Bilcher further explained that perceptions of Tulid and numerous other constituencies being underdeveloped have driven voter demand for leaders who are more vocal and assertive, challenging the traditional dominance of major political parties. However, he cautioned against interpreting the large number of candidates as a sign of healthy democracy, describing it instead as an overly permissive political environment lacking clear direction. “This is not a good democracy. this is unguided, undirected freedom. To me, this is an uncontrolled democracy,” he asserted.
Vote splitting in Tulid and the other 21 constituencies with multiple candidates would likely result in the eventual winner securing only a plurality rather than a majority, due to the highly fragmented vote, Dr. Bilcher added. “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 elaborated.
Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, UiTM Sabah, Tony Paridi Bagang, echoed this sentiment, describing 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,” he explained.
Tony noted that the intense contest in Tulid and other state seats reflects a unique dynamic, with numerous young and independent candidates entering the fray and disrupting the traditional advantages of incumbents, who typically rely on grassroots networks and 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 observed.
He further emphasized that each interior constituency has its own political identity, and therefore, the pattern seen in Tulid cannot be generalized for the entirety 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,” Tony added.
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). Other candidates include Ancis@Rayner Francis Udog (Parti Impian Sabah – PIS), Jufina Dimis (Parti Rumpun Sabah), and Dr. Aisat Ellik Igau Inggau (Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat-KDM). Six independent candidates are also vying for the seat: 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 November 29, with early voting set for November 25.