DAP Sabah welcomes for greater unity among all the key opposition parties as advocated by Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), when the party announced to pull out from United Sabah Alliance (USA) yesterday.
DAP opens to the concept of forming a Grand Alliance consisting of all opposition parties both Sabah-based and Peninsular-based, as announced by PCS President Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing.
We appreciate the recognition given by PCS to us DAP, that we had taken the stand to commit in struggling based on the spirit of Malaysia Agreement 1963. In order to have a total revamp for the current establishment and fulfillment of the MA63, we must subscribe to the main objective for a total regime change at Federal level and State level. Our role is not king maker, always consider to work with King, whoever it is. We wants to total regime change. DAP is at the same page with PCS in this perspective.
A Grand Alliance for all the key opposition parties could be either a formal pact like Pakatan Harapan which share a common election manifesto, or a loose electoral pact just to facilitate the seats negotiation.
The bottom line is, minimize or avoid multi-corner fight, which would adversely affect our elections results, especially in Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) majority seats.
Recalling the history of the last general election in 2013, it was undeniable that the opposition parties could win more seats if multi-corner fights were avoided. For parliamentary seats, apart from 3 seats namely Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Penampang won, in fact 4 more seats namely Kota Marudu, Keningau, Tenom, Pensiangan could be grabbed in last election.
For state seats, instead of 12 seats, opposition could win up to 20 seats. The 12 seats are PKR: Moyog, Inanam, Api-api, Matunggong, Kadamaian, Tamparuli, Klias; DAP: Likas, Luyang, Kapayan, Sri Tanjong; Star: Bingkor, while the extra 8 seats are Kiulu, Kundasang, Paginatan, Tambunan, Liawan, Melalap, Nabawan, Elopura.
The calculation here is based on the sum of total oppositions votes more than BN votes in that particular constituency. It hasn’t include those seats BN near-missed. With the latest scenario of emerging of Warisan in Muslim majority seats, which led by Datuk Seri Shafie Aqdal, the former vice president of UMNO, if all the key oppositions work together under the proposed Sabah Grand Alliance, total regime change in both Federal and State level, is not impossible.
Any single political party which wishes to contest most of the seats is not acceptable and cannot be compromised.
DAP Sabah wishes the history won’t repeat. I know the seat negotiation is going to be tough but we need to overcome our ego to achieve mutual understanding and tolerance with each others. Seat negotiation should be based on reasonable seat demand. All the political parties that are ready to form a Grand Alliance should consent on fair, equal and rational stand.