Kota kinabalu: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor must prioritize the stability of the new state government when deciding on his Cabinet line-up, according to analysts. They highlighted the necessity for Hajiji to assemble a strong and stable coalition to ensure Sabah’s progress following the slim victory of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the 17th Sabah State Election.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Hajiji-led GRS secured 29 seats in the election, falling short of the simple majority of 37 needed to form the state government. Parti Warisan won 25 seats, followed by Barisan Nasional with 6, Independents with 5, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) with 3, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) with 2, and Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), and Pakatan Harapan (PH) with one seat each.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian noted that the narrow win for GRS means the success of Hajiji’s administration depends on additional support from parties such as STAR and UPKO, as well as the five victorious independent assemblymen and the sole PH assemblyman. He emphasized the importance of establishing a solid administrative structure to maintain support from the independents and smaller parties, allowing the new government to focus on Sabah’s development and state rights.
Sivamurugan highlighted urgent matters such as the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the 40 per cent state revenue entitlement, which could become critical issues if left unresolved.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sabah senior lecturer Dr Arvin Tajari stated that Hajiji must act wisely to ensure continued backing from parties that have pledged their support. He pointed out that the Chief Minister’s first challenge is appointing the state Cabinet according to party composition, while another major challenge is ensuring the state budget is approved when tabled in the State Legislative Assembly.
Arvin noted the advantages of a coalition government, including the ability to represent diverse ethnic interests, but cautioned that a government formed without any party holding a simple majority is more vulnerable to collapse if it fails to meet coalition partners’ interests.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) Associate Prof Dr Syahruddin Awang Ahmad remarked on Sabah’s political history, noting frequent changes of government before the end of their mandate. He suggested that the federal government’s increased focus on Sabah, such as development allocations, may help avoid prolonged crises.
Syahruddin emphasized the necessity for Hajiji to implement strong and transparent governance mechanisms, especially in infrastructure delivery. He warned that a fragile coalition government must deliver tangible benefits to the people to secure political stability, highlighting the rise in state revenue to RM7 billion and the need for effective, corruption-free project implementation.
He concluded that the new Sabah government must demonstrate measurable results in addressing these issues to ensure continued public support and the state’s political stability.