KOTA KINABALU, Aug 9 — Any political understanding between Umno and PAS that may work in Peninsular Malaysia may not necessarily be suitable for Sabah, where political realities are markedly different, said Umno Sabah treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

He said the 2025 Sabah State Election had clearly demonstrated the strength of Sabah-based political sentiment, with local interests, autonomy, development and Sabah’s rights increasingly influencing voters’ choices.

“Malaysia is one country, but that does not mean every state must adopt the same political or electoral formula,” he said in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday.

Salleh said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) won 29 of the 55 seats it contested in the state election, while Parti Warisan (Warisan) secured 25 of the 73 seats it contested.

He said GRS and Warisan together held 54 of the 73 seats in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, while five other seats were won by independent candidates who subsequently supported the formation of a GRS-led state government.

“Viewed as a whole, the vast majority of successful candidates came from Sabah-based parties, local coalitions or independents whose politics are centred on Sabah’s interests.

“They may not form a single political bloc, but the results clearly demonstrate the strength of Sabah-centric politics,” he said.

Salleh noted that Barisan Nasional (BN) won six seats, Perikatan Nasional (PN) one, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) suffered a significant decline, winning only one seat.

He said the situation in Sarawak provided an even clearer example, with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) strengthening its position through a political approach centred on Sarawak’s interests, while Umno had never established a foothold there.

“Therefore, any Umno-PAS understanding that may prove effective in Peninsular Malaysia may not necessarily be suitable for implementation in Sabah.

“It could even have the opposite effect if it is perceived as a political formula that is overly centred on Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

Salleh said Umno Sabah should instead be viewed as a national party that understood the state’s political realities and was prepared to work closely with Sabah-based parties, particularly GRS.

“The formula must be clear: political stability, development, Sabah’s rights and the interests of the people of Sabah,” he said. — The Borneo Post