Sabah CM Hajiji includes BN and PH in his cabinet to secure stability and maintain crucial federal-state relations, say political analysts
PETALING JAYA: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s decision to appoint Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) representatives into his new state Cabinet is driven by the need to consolidate power at home while maintaining a functional relationship with Putrajaya, analysts say.
With federal-state relations playing an outsized role in Sabah’s development, maintaining goodwill with Putrajaya is seen as crucial to avoid policy gridlock or delays in federal allocations.
According to Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun, Hajiji, who leads the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, still requires the backing of BN and PH to strengthen his administration following the hung Sabah State Assembly outcome after the 17th Sabah election.
“I think at the end of the day, numbers matter. For Hajiji, the short-term stability of his government secured through a super-majority support in the state assembly outweighs longer-term calls for a Sabahan-only administration,” Oh told theSun via WhatsApp.
“The seven seats contributed by PH (one) and BN (six) help shore up that stability. There would also have been significant pressure from the federal level.
“For example, PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh pre-emptively announcing PH’s participation in the new state government placed additional weight on that decision,“ he added.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi echoed this view, saying GRS continues to rely on BN and PH as essential partners.
“BN and PH form the basic pillars of cooperation with the federal government. If relations turn cold, it would complicate the Hajiji administration’s ability to negotiate with Putrajaya,” he said.
Both analysts noted that the inclusion of national coalition leaders is less about political concession and more about ensuring the new Sabah government can function without the instability that typically plagues slim majorities.
Commenting on the extent to which Sabah can secure the autonomy it demands under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Oh cautioned that the path remains long and complex.
“The push for Sabah autonomy is a long and torturous journey, involving a blend of negotiations and confrontations from both federal and state sides.
Some view the presence of Cabinet members from national parties negatively, interpreting it as a sign the state government cannot adequately stand up for Sabah in dealings with the federal administration.
Others see it positively, believing such leaders who are Sabahans themselves can act as bridges between the state and federal levels.
Awang Azman meanwhile added that cooperation with Putrajaya remains a non-negotiable component of Sabah’s autonomy agenda.
“Sabah needs strong cooperation with the federal government to ensure its demands are not impeded. Hajiji’s approach, retaining BN and PH leaders in the state Cabinet, signals goodwill and helps maintain smooth federal-state ties without triggering political controversy.”
Apart from BN and PH, Hajiji also included the previous PH component party, Upko, in his Cabinet. The party president Datuk Ewon Benedick was appointed as the deputy chief minister III who will also act as the state Industrial, Entrepreneur and Transport minister.
Ewon was previously the federal Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development minister but relinquished his post prior to the Sabah state election, citing a matter of principle over the federal government’s handling of Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement claim.
