00:01A Sabah activist has dismissed a call by former Chief Minister Saleh Saeed Kuruwak for parties contesting the upcoming state election to make allowance for friendly fights in certain seats.
00:13Johan Arifin Samad said there was no such thing as a friendly contest in elections, adding that Sabah's complicated political dynamics was a major obstacle to such arrangements.
00:24Presently, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah leads the state government, while Barca Nacional sits in the opposition bloc.
00:32Despite this, both parties remain partners at the federal level with Pakatan Harapan and Gabungan Party Sarawak.
00:38On Tuesday, Saleh, the Sabah UMNO treasurer, called for GRS and BN to work together in the polls, suggesting a planned, respectful arrangement where both coalitions could field candidates,
00:50with the understanding that whichever party wins, the seat stays within the coalition.
00:55An analyst, who asked to remain anonymous, said Saleh's proposal papers over the deep rift between GRS and BN,
01:02noting that ties between GRS Chairman Haji J. Noor and Sabah UMNO chief Bung Mokhtar Radin have broken down completely, making collaboration virtually impossible.
01:13Bill Trebala of University Malaysia Sabah said Saleh's idea was not impossible, but said its success depends on political maturity
01:21and the ability to balance competition with cooperation.
01:25Bilger's colleague Lee Kwok-tiong said a friendly contest could minimize internal bleeding and reduce the risk of sabotage from within,
01:33particularly by members who are unable to secure candidacies.
