SHAH ALAM - The 17th Sabah State Election delivered an emphatic blow to DAP, as the party lost all eight seats it contested under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner.
The crushing defeat, including the high-profile loss of Datuk Chan Foong Hin in Tanjung Aru, marks a deeply embarrassing outcome for the party, exposing the fragility of its traditional voter base in Sabah.
This marks the first time since 2004 that DAP will have no representation in the state assembly.
Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said early signs had indicated that urban voters, typically reliable supporters of PH–DAP, were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with how the coalition has been steering the government.
Still, she acknowledged that the scale of the defeat - a complete wipeout, was beyond what she had expected.
“To me, it reflects the current mood toward the PH-led administration, especially with the recent scandals shaping public perception. This is undeniably embarrassing and disheartening for DAP.
“What it really shows is that DAP–PH can no longer assume their traditional base will always be there for them. These voters are rational, issue-driven and they have made it clear that loyalty is not unconditional,” she told Sinar Daily.
Syaza said the defeat was shaped by a combination of national and local factors. At the national level, she said there was clear dissatisfaction with PH, while Sabah-specific issues, particularly on autonomy, also influenced voter sentiment.
The International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer stressed that people were seeking clarity on matters such as the ‘40 per cent Sabah rights’, which PH has yet to provide a convincing stance on these issues.
Meanwhile, Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research Programme Director Ibrahim Suffian described DAP’s collapse in Sabah as part of a “longer-term trend,” noting that the party’s decline had not happened overnight.
He said that the decline was not sudden, as the pattern had been visible from the start, although he did not anticipate the outcome to be as severe as it was.
“DAP has been heavily dependent on Chinese voters and this election clearly showed a major Chinese swing against both DAP and Warisan. Their frustration with the state government, from the governor’s appointment to corruption allegations, has been simmering for a long time.
“Ultimately, voters chose to send a very strong signal to DAP for aligning themselves with GRS. To me, the backlash was very much rooted in Sabah-specific issues rather than a national rejection of PH.
“The problems Sabah voters are dealing with are not the same as those at the national level, and because Sabah’s Chinese voters are comfortable supporting an opposition party like Warisan which isn’t religion-based like Pas or Perikatan Nasional (PN), they had no hesitation swinging their support.
“So this outcome reflects the Sabah context, not a wider national trend,” he told Sinar Daily today.
On whether the result could be considered embarrassing for DAP, Ibrahim acknowledged that it was fair to describe it as such.
He said many state leaders had foreseen challenges early on, but once they committed to working with GRS, they were essentially locked into that strategy.
“Unfortunately, that cooperation came with a heavy political price and this election outcome shows it clearly,” he added.
The unofficial results confirmed DAP’s exit from the state government, with losses across constituencies including Tanjung Aru, Sri Tanjong, Kapayan, Elopura, Likas, Luyang and Tanjung Papat.
Chan, who is DAP's deputy chairman and the deputy plantation and commodities minister, was defeated in Tanjung Aru by a candidate from Parti Warisan two-term assemblymen Datuk Junz Wong in a nine-cornered battle. Warisan's Wong managed to garner 2,603 votes against Chan who only got 1,039 votes.
Sabah DAP chief Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe was defeated by Warisan Tham Yun Fook in a six-cornered fight in Likas. Phoong only had 2,644 votes compared to Tham's 4,781 votes.
Sabah DAP secretary and Sandakan MP Vivian Wong was also defeated in the Elopura state seat as she was defeated when she only had 4,001 votes against Warisan's two-term incumbent Calvin Chong who got 6,307 votes.
In Kemabong, DAP's Noorita Sual failed to make inroads there when its candidate was defeated by GRS' Rubin Balang in a nine-cornered fight. She only had 2,889 votes while Rubin had 4,486 votes.
In Tanjong Papat, DAP's Tang Szu Ching only had 1,623 votes and lost to Warisan's Alex Thien who got 2,283 votes in an eight-cornered fight.
In Sri Tanjong, DAP's Philip Yap lost to Warisan's Justin Wong in a six-cornered fight. Yap only managed to get 6,549 votes against Wong who got 9,648 votes.
DAP, which fielded new face Chan Loong Wei in Luyang only garnered 4,944 votes and was also defeated by Warisan's Samuel Wong Tshun Chuen who got 11,234 votes in a five-cornered fight.
In Kapayan, Warisan's Chin Tek Ming garnered 3,455 votes to defeat DAP's two-term incumbent Jannie Lasimbang, who only got 1,514 votes.
In 2020, DAP won six seats, namely Likas, Luyang, Kepayan, Sri Tanjong, Elopura and Tanjong Papat.