DAP has yet to determine whether it will contest the upcoming Sabah state election under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) logo or its iconic Rocket emblem, said Secretary-General Anthony Loke.
“Whether it will be the PH logo or the Rocket, the matter has not been decided and will be determined by Sabah DAP,” Loke told reporters.
His statement comes as discussions on a potential pact between Sabah PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) have stalled, with no agreement reached despite initial talks.
Loke’s comments however may signal deeper struggles for Sabah DAP.
Sabah DAP has been navigating internal issues within Sabah PH and reviewing their role working with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition amid a leadership crisis.
Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe has called for consensus within Sabah PH on its ties with GRS, particularly after the exposure of a mining license scandal implicating several GRS leaders.
The party has reiterated its stance against corruption.
Phoong recently said Sabah DAP is seeking voter feedback during Chinese New Year to determine its next steps.
This follows repeated, unsuccessful attempts by the party to convene meetings with other PH components to address the issue.
Phoong stated, Sabah DAP will remain a partner in the GRS-led state government for now.
Adding to its challenges, Sabah PH is also grappling with a leadership dispute.
Sabah PKR opposes the election of Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick as Sabah PH chairman, arguing the position should belong to PKR.
Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud contends Benedick’s appointment still requires endorsement from the PH presidential council.
The disagreement has left Sabah PH without clear leadership to guide its election preparations.
Meanwhile, Loke confirmed that DAP will contest all six seats it won in the previous election in Sabah, including Elopura and Sri Tanjong, but ruled out using the Warisan logo as it did in the 2020 state polls.
Sabah DAP lost the Elopura and Sri Tanjong seats after assemblymen Calvin Chong and Justin Wong defected to Warisan in 2022.
This set the stage of potential clashes with Warisan in these constituencies in the upcoming election. – January 27, 2025.
