KOTA KINABALU - Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi predicts that no party will secure a strong majority in the 17th Sabah State Election this Saturday, opening the door for a coalition government.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that multi-cornered contests in most seats indicated that no coalition would emerge dominant, making political cooperation necessary to ensure Sabah’s stability.
"My prediction is that no single party will hold dominance in Sabah. A coalition government will likely form again, and we want to ensure that political stability in the state is given priority.
"We want the Sabah Pan Borneo (highway project) to be completed within five years. We also want the issues of infrastructure, electricity and water supply to be resolved, as the people of Sabah deserve proper roads, clean water and reliable electricity to live in peace," he said in his speech at a programme with Sabah’s Indian Community in Inanam, yesterday.
Zahid said that although the state polls saw multi-cornered contests in several seats, the process reflected the unique festival of democracy in Sabah.
According to him, Sabah’s strength lies in its racial and religious tolerance, with social acceptance in both Sabah and Sarawak reportedly higher than in the peninsula.
"I believe that, in this situation, whoever governs Sabah must ensure that racial tolerance is preserved.
"That’s why the Madani Government, as highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, serves as the best example of how to respect different races, religions, languages and cultures. This is the uniqueness and strength of the Malaysian community," he said.
Commenting on the role of the Indian community in Sabah, Zahid stressed that despite their small percentage, their contribution in professional and business sectors should be recognised as an integral part of state development.
On education, he once again emphasised the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), with the government targeting 70 per cent of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia holders to pursue TVET by the end of the 13th Malaysia Plan to meet the demand for skilled workers in foreign direct investment.
Zahid added that the government was committed to ensuring all students nationwide have access to TVET, including a programme to send them to China for training in technology-related fields.
The Election Commission has set this Saturday as polling day for the 17th Sabah state election. - BERNAMA