
Two analysts have suggested that Upko, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) join a large alliance to bolster their standing in Sabah’s shifting political landscape.
Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan said Sabahans ultimately gravitated towards bigger platforms and more established entities in the just-concluded state election despite the fact that the three parties also campaigned along strong local-centric narratives.
Upko won three seats in the polls, while STAR grabbed two and KDM one.
“Despite the fact that these parties are 100% local, the voters gravitated towards Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which is a coalition, and Warisan which is a more established local party.
“It shows that if Upko, KDM and STAR want to survive in the…