If you thought the Sabah state election ended when the results were announced, think again.
In typical Sabah fashion, the real political drama only began after polling day. The twists and turns that commentators predicted did not just appear — they are multiplying. And if the early signs are correct, Sabahans may be in for a long season of political turbulence.
Shock Results — but Also a Warning Shot
Sabahans sent a strong message on polling day. Many seats changed hands. Long-standing party dominance vanished overnight.
Chinese voters, who were once predictable, made a sharp turn. Joceline Tan had already hinted that this community might “take the boat” in a different direction — and they did. Their votes did not go where the big peninsula-based parties expected.
DAP’s total wipe-out was shocking but not surprising. A month before the polls, analysts already sensed that “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment was rising. Younger Sabahans — including young DAP members — saw it clearly too. The local mood had shifted, and national narratives were no longer enough.
Warisan benefitted heavily from this sentiment. Yet even their gains were not enough to form the state government. GRS held on — but only after mid-night arithmetic and frantic negotiations.
A 3AM Swearing-In — Because Sabah Politics Waits for No One
When Hajiji Noor was sworn in at 3:00 AM, it was more than just political theatre. It was a statement. He knew, Sabah knew, and every old hand in Sabah politics knew: if he waited until sunrise, things might already look different.
Sabah’s political history has taught every Chief Minister one lesson — governments can fall not in years, not in months, but in hours.
So Hajiji moved fast. Musa Aman, a veteran survivor of Sabah’s political storms, was also there. His message was clear: do not give your enemies time. And with that, Sabah had a government — at least temporarily.
Petitions, Rumours, and Money Politics — The Second Phase Begins
Barely days after the election, whispers turned into claims. Election petitions were filed. Some results could still be overturned. And then came something darker: Sabahkini2 reported that five independent assemblymen were approached with RM10 million offers to switch sides.
Whether the allegations prove true or not, the mere existence of such claims shows the political climate. Sabah’s numbers are too tight. Too much depends on too few individuals. When governments hang on a thread, any thread can be pulled — or bought.
And that is why nobody believes the post-election phase is settled.
UMNO: From Rejecting GRS… to Suddenly Supporting It?
Then came another twist. Zahid Hamidi and Bung Moktar had loudly declared before the election that UMNO would never join a Hajiji-led government again. The wounds of 2023 and 2024 were still fresh.
Yet, suddenly, UMNO statements appeared supporting GRS. Not from Zahid. Not from Bung. But from Zambry Abd Kadir and Asyraf Wajidi.
Why the sudden change?
Sabahans immediately noticed Musa Aman’s fingerprints. The former chief minister, still an UMNO member, had been advising Hajiji. And if there is one thing Musa understands, it is how to form a durable government — or at least one that can survive the initial storm.
With UMNO performing poorly and facing criticism for its disastrous strategy, some in the party may see survival, not ego, as the priority.
But Bung Moktar remains a major obstacle. He is fighting his own battles — allegations of ballot stuffing, angry voters, and the looming prospect of prison from his Felcra case.
Adding salt to injury, his own deputy in Kinabatangan UMNO — Jeffrey Ariffin — was appointed Sabah’s Tourism Minister under GRS.
To Bung’s supporters, this feels like betrayal. To his critics, it's poetic justice. Either way, UMNO’s internal quarrels are far from over.
More brutal bitterness expressed came from the GRS and independent state assemblymen attending the swearing ceremony. In the presence of TYT Tun Musa Aman, it is heard curses hurled at Bung's man Minister. .
Is GRS Stable, or Just Balanced on Ice?
On paper, Hajiji has the numbers. But numbers in Sabah are fragile. When independents, small parties, and wounded UMNO warlords hold the keys to the government, anything can happen.
And because election petitions are ongoing, the current majority is not even guaranteed. One overturned seat could tip the scales.
One defection could collapse the structure. The KDM bloc either 7 or 13 to include PBS can move away and Hajiji goes into retirement from politics.
One deal such as the non-binding independent bloc could rewrite the government.
The fear inside GRS is real — and justified.
The Final Truth: The Real Election Has Only Just Begun
There is a saying in Sabah:
“The election ends when the votes are counted. The government begins only when the dust settles.”
Right now, the dust is still in the air, and every political player is moving in the shadows — whispering, negotiating, plotting, and waiting.
If anyone claims to know how Sabah politics will look even one month from today, they’re guessing. Because in Sabah, the real game is always played after polling day.
And that game has only just begun.
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