CHINESE are the biggest losers in last weekend’s Sabah state election.
About 95% of the Chinese votes in Sabah went to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the last general election and helped to propel the then Opposition to power.
This time around the same percentage of their votes went to Warisan Plus but failed to return the coalition to power.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah won the polls but none of the candidates from Chinese parties within the coalition, including MCA and Sabah Progressive Party, was elected.
This scenario does not augur well for the Chinese community, Sin Chew Daily wrote in a commentary.
First of all, Chinese, as the second biggest ethnic group in Sabah, are not represented in the state Cabinet.
And for the first time, a Chinese is not among the three deputy chief ministers. The posts were filled by a Malay and two Kadazans.
By tradition, to reflect the multi-ethnic make-up of the state government, a Chinese would be appointed as one of the three deputy chief ministers.
There were even three Chinese chief ministers in the state’s history.
The argument by some that it is not important to the Chinese whether or not the community is represented in the government is wrong.
To participate in politics is to get into the government system to gain power and fight for the community, and have a say in government policies.
This is especially true in a multi-ethnic society where lines are drawn based on ethnic groups and benefits are doled out based on votes.
A community that does not participate in the government or in the mainstream will be sidelined.
Secondly, the present scenario also illustrated that a state government can still be formed without the Chinese.
GRS did not win any Chinese-majority seats but it is still able to form a state government with the support of Muslim and non-Muslim bumiputras.
In other words, Chinese votes did not affect the outcome of the election.
For as long as GRS can retain its current voter base, it does not need Chinese support.
Meanwhile, political analyst Phoon Wing Keong predicts a swing of Chinese votes back to Chinese-based parties such as MCA in the next general election, Nanyang Siang Pau reported.
He said the rise and fall of PH since 2018 and the results of the Sabah polls have made Chinese realise that it is hard for PH Plus to come back to power.
They will not bank their hopes on PH very much, he opined.
“In the next general election, it will be difficult for PH to garner 80% to 90% of Chinese votes.
“Some Chinese will vote for Perikatan Nasional with the hope that Chinese representation in the Cabinet would at least be maintained.”
