2 days ago
Afterglow of PBS and STAR Convention
The Chief Minister with PBS and Star leaders at the convention on July 12.
THE election fever has gone up a significant number of notches up the scale! Thanks to the rousing PBS and Star Convention at the Hongkod Koisaan on July 12, Sabahans have now been triggered to a palpably higher fever pitch. Everyone with the smallest dosage of interest in political developments is watching more sharply, pouring out all the rumours he has in stock for good over-coffee political 'analysis'. It is amazing how excitement can turn novices into blind-shooting pundits overnight!
What was the convention's objective and what had it achieved? Obviously, it was to foster greater unity between two brothers, to flex muscle for a pre-combat posturing — to send a message to voters that the two parties are the new force to be reckoned with. But what it achieved was beyond expectation. The 7,000-strong crowd that the two parties managed to gather from all over Sabah was, I believe, a record for an organizational convergence at the Hongkod. And the attendants' pre-election spirit rose to the ceiling and synergized into a spontaneous frenzy. Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan's entry into the hall was received with the loudest applause and cheers from the PBS and Star members who chanted 'Solo, solo, solo …'. They had already known of Dr Jeffrey's anointing by the Huguan Siou, Tan Sri Jseph Pairing Kitingan, to be undisputed future president of a possible PBStar merged entity and, therefore, its chief-in-command of the coming election campaign force.
On the other hands, Datuk Joachim Gunsalam tripped in his address by speaking on the possibility of working with Pakatan Harapan, triggering an instant backlash of loud booing from the crowd, which, long-enamoured with the 'Sabah for Sabahans' slogan, was in no mood for compromise or collaboration with Peninsula-based parties. Reflecting this sentiment, the dominating one-word slogan of the day was 'Solo!' to which the MC, Ardino Diris, fed on by continually saying it in his leading from the stage, and never once failed to get instant and rousing supporting 'Solo!' shouts from the audience.
The crowd continued to chant 'Solo, solo, solo …' with vigour even during the address by the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajii Hj. Noor, who was elated by the sheer size of the crowd. He remarked later that with such an indication of support there was no reason to doubt a GRS election victory. In his Instagram post he again expressed excitement: 'The PBS-STAR Convention 2025 last night symbolized the strong unity between the two local parties that are the main pillars of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition. This proves that GRS is ready to face the 17th State General Election with a united, strong and capable leadership lineup.'
But the verbal expressions at the event didn't reflect the unspoken feelings of PBS and Star members and supporters. The 'Solo' shout to Dr Jeffrey had a different suggestive meaning from the one shouted at the CM – to Dr Jeffry, solo for PBStar, and to the CM solo for GRS. There are post-convention whispers that while giving due respect and courtesy to our state CEO, they feel the occasion should have been officiated by Tan Sri Huguan Siou, to forge a stronger 'in-house' unity. Shimmering below the surface is the old, half a century of Momogun nationalism that was stifled but never died, as Margaret Roff wrote to end her paper on 'The Rise and Demise of the Kadazan Nationalism', with the phrase 'one wonders … if it has been killed so easily'. No, it still simmers long, quiet and undying.
Spurred by memory and simmering spirit of 1985, the Momoguns in the two parties are now quietly envisioning a new Sabah in which they play a commanding leadership role. In the current political structure and chessboard they are face with the dilemma of dreaming of hegemony (which is no longer easy to grasp) and having to compromise and accept power sharing (which is more achievable and pragmatic). Some even extend their imagination to a possible creation of a PBStar-led coalition san-GRS, a projection which made the Star secretary general, Datuk Edward Linggu, ask this writer if 'we should be emotional or rational'.
But admittedly, to noticeable degree, this dream has somewhat solidified behind the curtains at and after the convention. Weighing the pros and cons of being in or outside the GRS post-assembly dissolution, a segment of party leaders and members are keeping their fingers crossed for the possible turn of events, a readjustment of political alignments, which will justify a true 'solo', i.e. PBStar only, foray into the PRN17.
But for the moment several key Star leaders are adamant that the party's more realistic option is to march forward within GRS, while top PBS leaders such as Joachim Gunsalam and Datuk Joniston Bangkuai have repeatedly stated their 'commitment' to remain in GRS.
But then again, there are those nudging top leaders in Star to seriously consider for the party to go solo, even without PBS. They are calculating possible sudden positional advantage should drastic change of the current scenario takes place, e.g. if the corruption allegations against state non-Star leaders develop into highly damaging legal battles, or PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's legal tangles incapacitate him. But the CM may already be pre-empting such a development with an early dissolution of the state assembly, possibly next month.
The other factor in the decision-making consideration is election funding which would distort political ambition, ideology and strategy. If cash is truly king, then those with abundant stocks, will gain leveraging on the voters' hunger for vote-buying handouts, especially with the current inflationary and income-strapped economic climate. While rumours circulate in kopitiams and WhatsApp about a flood of vote-for-me gifts in the cities and poor villages, with some speculating that it could amount to billions of ringgits, mosquito parties are scratching their heads in panic, praying for miracles to empower their campaign ideologies and promises. But then again Berjaya and Barisan Nasional were defeated despite massive bankrolls.
So while the pre-election excitement rise steadily to explode into a frenzy soon, Star continues to bath in the warm afterglow of the convention, although with some questions on strategy still hanging in the air. At the same time PBS feels a lack of confidence to safari solo into the hunting ground, believing in the security of clinging to the bigger hunting team. But let's not forget that size doesn't guarantee the amount of harvest; even the Titanic, the ship that 'even God couldn't sink', sunk tragically!
