The 17th Sabah State Election (PRN Sabah ke-17) held on 29 November 2025 was not just another political contest. It was a referendum on daily survival, leadership credibility, and Sabah’s long-standing struggle for dignity within the federation. Voters did not vote emotionally. They voted pragmatically. And the results tell a very clear story. This article breaks down the key socio-economic and political issues that drove voter behaviour in PRN Sabah 2025 — and why the election ended in a hung assembly.
Infrastructure Crisis: Water, Electricity, and Roads
Infrastructure was the number one issue in PRN Sabah ke-17. Across the state, voters expressed deep frustration over:
- Unreliable clean water supply
- Frequent electricity disruptions
- Poor and unsafe road conditions
These were not viewed as technical failures. They were seen as leadership failures.
In the East Coast (Sandakan, Tawau), youth voters openly compared Sabah to neighbouring Sarawak, highlighting how the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak progressed faster, while Sabah’s segment stalled. This comparison sharpened resentment and reinforced the belief that Sabah had been left behind.
Public sentiment increasingly linked infrastructure decay to greed, negligence, and incompetence, not lack of funding alone. This translated into a “punishment vote” against the incumbent Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which failed to secure a simple majority on its own.
Cost of Living and Youth Unemployment
Economic anxiety ran deep — especially among young voters. Key pressures included:
- Sabah recording the highest youth unemployment rate in Malaysia (6.7% in Q1 2025)
- Rising food, fuel, and housing costs
- Fewer quality job opportunities, especially outside Kota Kinabalu
Young voters were no longer interested in vague promises or ideological speeches. They demanded:
- Concrete job pathways
- Local economic opportunities
- Practical, constituency-level solutions
The East Coast faced higher poverty levels and living costs, reinforcing feelings of marginalisation and abandonment by both state and federal leadership.
PRN Sabah 2025 confirmed one thing beyond doubt: regionalism is now mainstream. Local Sabah-based parties collectively won 82.19% of the 73 seats, while Peninsular-based coalitions:
- Barisan Nasional (BN)
- Pakatan Harapan (PH)
- Perikatan Nasional (PN)
managed only 8 seats combined.
This was driven by a strong “Sabah for Sabahans” narrative, anchored around:
- MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963)
- Demand for the 40% federal revenue entitlement
- Rejection of perceived federal dominance by “Parti Malaya”
Voters preferred local leaders who could negotiate with Putrajaya, not submit to it. Integrity, Corruption, and Voter Fatigue Corruption remained a major concern, but voter behaviour reflected something deeper: integrity fatigue.
Scandals that shaped perception included:
- A mining-related controversy involving GRS figures
- The long shadow of the Sabah Water Department scandal
While voters supported anti-corruption efforts in principle, many had become cynical about whether any political elite could truly clean up governance.
This did not result in a single anti-corruption wave — instead, it fragmented votes across parties and independents.
Stability vs Change: A Delicate Balance
Despite frustration, voters also feared instability. After years of political turbulence, GRS campaigned heavily on:
- Stability
- Continuity
- Calm governance
This message resonated just enough for GRS to secure a plurality (29 seats) — but not enough to win outright. The result:
- No party reached the 37-seat simple majority
- Sabah entered a hung assembly
- A unity government became inevitable
Voters effectively sent a message:
“Govern — but don’t dominate.”
Undi18 and the Rise of the Pragmatic Youth Voter
The implementation of Undi18 added over 660,000 new voters, making youth roughly 30% of the electorate. This group proved to be:
- Highly pragmatic
- Issue-driven, not party-loyal
- Focused on outcomes, not slogans
Youth votes were scattered, preventing any single party from claiming a “youth wave.” Candidates who could show real work on the ground gained an edge.
Candidate-Centric Voting: Personality Over Party
Across Sabah, voters increasingly prioritised:
- Candidates who were rajin turun padang
- Leaders seen as caring, accessible, and hardworking
- Local problem-solvers over party loyalists
This behaviour directly contributed to the election of five Independent candidates, who later emerged as kingmakers in government formation.
Regional Polarisation: East vs West
Voting patterns followed clear geographic lines:
- West Coast & Interior (Kadazandusun/Murut areas): GRS stronghold
- East Coast (Muslim Bumiputera areas): Warisan fortress
The East Coast’s persistent development gap, infrastructure neglect, and economic hardship reinforced opposition loyalty in those regions.
Conclusion: PRN Sabah 2025 Was a Vote for Accountability
PRN Sabah ke-17 was not about ideology. It was about delivery. Sabahans voted:
- Against poor infrastructure
- Against economic stagnation
- Against blind loyalty
For autonomy, dignity, and practical leadership
The hung assembly was not a failure of democracy — it was a calculated outcome by voters who wanted balance, accountability, and restraint. Sabah’s message in 2025 was simple but powerful:
“Serve us properly — or step aside.”
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