Sabah Pakatan Harapan commits to delivering manifesto pledges in post-election talks, focusing on economic development and public transport
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Pakatan Harapan remains confident it can deliver its core policy commitments despite contesting relatively few seats in the upcoming state election.
Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said the coalition’s influence stems from policy pledges that will guide post-election government formation negotiations.
“We are not contesting many seats; we may look small, but when we are invited to negotiate the next government, we need whoever wants to form the government to fulfil these commitments,” he told reporters after launching the coalition’s manifesto.
Phoong emphasised that discussions should focus on policy delivery rather than mere distribution of government positions.
The manifesto outlines 10 priority commitments across seven core agendas, launched together with Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and Sabah Amanah chairman Datuk Lahirul Latigu.
Phoong described Sabah’s multi-party landscape as making post-election negotiations inevitable but stressed these must be responsible and policy-anchored.
He advocated for a more mature political culture where government formation follows firm policy commitments, similar to practices in Germany and Italy.
Economic development features prominently in the manifesto, including port upgrades and efficient public transport systems like light rail transit for Kota Kinabalu.
“According to a World Bank report, traffic congestion costs our country around 1 to 2% of GDP,” Phoong said, attributing this to inadequate public transportation.
Transforming Kota Kinabalu into a more liveable and sustainable city remains central to his political mission.
“I’ve been fighting this for the past 10 years when I was very young… this has always been something that is close to my heart because I believe that KK people deserve a better city and a liveable city,” he said.
Pakatan Harapan is contesting 21 of 73 state seats with 12 PKR candidates, eight from DAP and one from Amanah.
Polling is scheduled for November 29 with early voting on November 25. – Bernama
