• Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) retains control in Sabah with 29 seats.
• Pakatan Harapan (PH) suffers steep losses, winning only one seat out of 20 contested.
• Calls for greater state autonomy drive local sentiment against national coalitions.
• Issues like infrastructure and federal revenue entitlement contribute to voter discontent.
• Anwar faces pressure to reassess relationships with Sabah and Sarawak.

According to unofficial results from the recent Sabah election, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) emerged with 29 seats, allowing its chairman Hajiji Noor to be sworn in as chief minister for a second term. Despite winning the most seats, GRS requires coalition partners to form a stable government as it does not achieve a simple majority in the state's 73-seat assembly, leaving the support of its ally, Pakatan Harapan (PH), critical for governance, which won only one of the 20 seats it contested. This outcome marks a significant reducing from seven seats previously held by PH, especially for the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which lost all eight seats it contested, indicating a clear shift in voter sentiment towards local parties, according to channelnewsasia, Reuters, and The Jakarta Post.

In light of these results, political analysts believe that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces the first significant electoral setback during his three-year leadership. His coalition’s diminished presence in Sabah hinges on significant local issues, such as calls for greater autonomy and enhancements to essential infrastructure, which erode confidence in national parties’ capabilities to address local needs. Anwar acknowledged the message from voters, stressing their demand for "real change" while steering clear of discussing the losses faced by his allies, revealing tensions within his coalition, as noted by experts from the region, according to Reuters, channelnewsasia, and The Jakarta Post.

Political analysts have highlighted the growing sentiment among Sabah voters for local autonomy politically, with many leaning towards parties rooted in the state's interests. Notably, GRS and its main rival, Warisan, have generated significant public support as they embody local governance aspirations, contrasting sharply with national coalitions like Anwar's PH that seem increasingly detached from regional issues. This shift is evidenced by many voters feeling that their concerns regarding resource rights and basic services are not being adequately represented by federal parties, comments reflected by experts throughout the election reports, according to channelnewsasia and Reuters.

The election results underscore a pressing need for Anwar's administration to recalibrate its relationship not only with Sabah but across Borneo and ensure commitments around federal revenue entitlements stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 are prioritized. There is a palpable concern among voters that federal promises have fallen short, and this dissatisfaction could linger into future elections unless the Anwar administration effectively addresses these issues. Analysts have noted that perceiving Anwar’s leadership as overly focused on political rhetoric rather than substantial reforms could lead to lost support in future polls, reflecting deeper discontent among constituents, as cautioned by critics reported in channelnewsasia and The Jakarta Post.

As the newly formed state assembly prepares for action, future considerations suggest that Sabah’s political landscape may continue to shift, particularly as the GRS, backed by local parties, pushes for greater federal negotiation power. The inability of PH to register substantial wins highlights potential fractures within Anwar’s coalition strategy moving forward. The call for local representation to adequately address state issues may compel federal political leaders to rethink their engagement tactics towards East Malaysia, illustrating that slipping away from local grievances risks perpetuating a cycle of electoral decline, which has been highlighted by political observers, according to Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and channelnewsasia.