https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4506-6508
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ABSTRACT
This article examines the resurgence of regional coalitions in Sarawak and Sabah following the 14th and 15th General Elections, respectively. It shows how federal-level government changes in Malaysia can result in the realignment of regional parties in Sarawak and Sabah, which had significantly shaped Malaysia’s political landscape as BN’s frontline states. The resurgence of the regional coalitions, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), demonstrates not only the fragmentation of national politics and the rise of regionalism but also the ease with which regional parties dominated by strongmen and aided by patronage can realign, enter and exit coalitions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. ‘Ideological’ is used here liberally to indicate the broad inclination within larger communities towards ethno-religious nationalism or cosmopolitan inclusion.
2. Regional parties did emerge in the Peninsula in the 1950s and 1960s, such as the Perak Progressive Party (PPP), National Association of Perak, Perak Malay Leagues and the Penang-based Radical Party. PPP later changed its name to People’s Progressive Party but remained a minor party in Perak and Kuala Lumpur after joining BN while all others demised.
3. It was founded as Sabah Heritage Party (Parti Sabah Warisan) but the word Sabah was dropped in its move to go national.
4. The acronym UPKO was adopted with a similar full name, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation, before its rebranding in 2019 as United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation.
5. In 2016, it dropped Sarawak from its name and became just PDP.
6. Sabah had 73 state constituencies in the 2020 state election, 13 more than before the dissolution.