00:00Political tensions are simmering in Sabah after the top leadership of Bakatan Harapan and Barisan National announced today that all key decisions related to the state election will be finalized by the national leadership.
00:15A senior Gabaran Rakyat Sabah leader said the move appears to have effectively stripped Sabah PH of its autonomy. He said this has irked many local leaders who insist that the direction of the state chapters and Sabah's political destiny should be decided by Sabahans.
00:34The GRS man said leaving the final decision-making process to the federal leadership of both coalitions disregards Sabah's unique political landscape.
00:43A statement issued by the Unity Government Secretariat this morning said that discussions on the cooperation between BN and PH would be handled jointly by the leaderships of their state chapters.
00:56However, the statement also said that all decisions will be finalized by the top leadership of PH and BN at the national level.
01:04The GRS leader said such remarks lead to Sabahans feeling as if they are being sidelined, as decisions about the state are often made by those who do not reside there.
