Sabah for Sabahans: Malaysian State Election Delivers a Rebuke to Anwar's Federal Government

While a local coalition loosely aligned with Prime Minister `keyword`Anwar Ibrahim`’s ruling bloc held onto power in `keyword`Sabah`'s `stat`November 29` state election, the real story was the stunning collapse of support for his national coalition. The results sent a powerful message from the eastern Malaysian state: a surge in regionalism and deep disenchantment with the federal government in `keyword`Kuala Lumpur` now outweighs national party allegiances.

A Collapse for Peninsular Parties

The election’s biggest upset was the rout of `keyword`Anwar`’s `keyword`Pakatan Harapan` (PH) coalition. It secured just `stat`one of the 20 seats` it contested, a dramatic drop from the `stat`eight` it previously held. Its partner, the `keyword`Democratic Action Party` (DAP), traditionally backed by the ethnic Chinese community, lost all `stat`six` of its seats—a devastating blow.

`keyword`James Chin` of the University of Tasmania, a leading observer of Malaysian politics, described the outcome as "a vote against Malaya or West Malaysia" and a powerful expression of "Sabah nationalism." He told The Diplomat, "People want Sabah’s political future to be decided by Sabahans, and they do not want any more interference." Underscoring this trend, `stat`90 percent` of the seats in the new assembly were won by `keyword`Sabah`-based parties.

A Warning Shot to Kuala Lumpur

The local `keyword`Gabungan Rakyat Sabah` (GRS) coalition won `stat`29 of the 73 assembly seats`, allowing it to maintain its hold on the state government. It was closely followed by its rival `keyword`Warisan`, a multi-ethnic opposition party running on an explicit "Sabah for Sabahans" platform, which took `stat`25 seats`. According to `keyword`Chin`, GRS’s narrow victory was likely due to the advantages of incumbency and greater financial resources, as the popular vote between the two localist blocs was quite small.

Analysts see the election as a demand for a fundamental reset in the relationship between the federal government and `keyword`Malaysia`'s two eastern states. `keyword`Chin` warns that if `keyword`Kuala Lumpur` continues its "hardline politics" and fails to return what is owed, a serious separatist movement could develop, drawing parallels to resource-driven grievances in places like `keyword`Catalonia`, `keyword`Spain`.