SHAH ALAM – The 17th Sabah State Election delivered a harsh lesson for Pakatan Harapan (PH), as DAP suffered a complete wipeout, losing all eight seats it contested.
Analysts and party leaders now see the results as a stark signal to reassess strategies and reconnect with voters, particularly within the Chinese community.
Sabah PKR Leadership Council Chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud acknowledged that the party did not expect to lose a substantial portion of its traditionally strong Chinese voter base.
He emphasised the need for a post-mortem analysis to understand the factors behind this unexpected outcome.
“This serves as a wake-up call for PH, particularly PKR, to reassess and refine our strategy in preparation for the 16th General Election (GE).
“Identifying these issues early is beneficial, as it allows us to plan effectively and work on winning back our voters,” he said.
The election results confirmed DAP’s unprecedented defeat, with losses across constituencies including Tanjung Aru, Sri Tanjong, Kapayan, Elopura, Likas, Luyang and Tanjung Papat.
Among the most notable casualties was Sabah DAP Deputy Chairman and Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin, who lost the Tanjung Aru seat to Warisan.
PH’s wipeout highlights the shifting political mood among urban and Chinese voters in Sabah, many of whom have expressed dissatisfaction with both national and local governance issues.
Political observers stated that this outcome highlighted the importance of local engagement and the need for PH to rebuild trust ahead of future elections.