Independent candidates could shake up Sabah polls, say analysts

Free Malaysia Today

Bilcher Bala and Lee Kuok Tiung say these candidates could benefit from voter dissatisfaction with major parties.  Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/04/02/independent-candidates-could-shake-up-sabah-polls-say-analysts/  Laporan Lanjut: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/04/02/calon-bebas-prn-sabah-mampu-pecah-dominasi-parti-utama-kata-penganalisis/  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #Independent #Candidates #Sabah

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00:00Independent candidates could win key seats in the upcoming Sabah state election, potentially

00:07influencing the formation of the next government, say analysts.

00:11They cited the victories of Mas Yungbana, Rudy Awa and Rubin Balang in the Kuamut, Pitas

00:17and Kemabung seats, respectively.

00:19The trio later aligned themselves with Chief Minister Hajiji Noor's administration.

00:24Bill Chirbala of University of Malaysia Sabah said growing frustration with mainstream parties

00:29has led voters to see independence as a more genuine alternative.

00:33He added that such candidates, now being bound by party interests, are perceived as more

00:37authentic in championing local issues.

00:40However, Bilcer said their success depends on their ability to maintain momentum and

00:45engage voters on pressing local concerns.

00:48Last week, independent Kudat MP Verdhan Bahanda said his movement of independent candidates,

00:54dubbed the Black Wave, aims to win 4-5 seats based on surveys which showed that 80% of

01:00undecided youth voters trusted individuals more than parties.

01:05Lee Kwok-Tiong, also of UMS, agreed, saying independent candidates should not be underestimated

01:11given their past successes.

01:13However, Bilcer and Lee cautioned that in multi-cornered contests, independent candidates

01:18could end up splitting votes in ways that unexpectedly benefit stronger parties.

01:24For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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