History lesson: The year was 1994. We were waiting for newly-appointed Sabah Chief Minister Tun Sakaran Dandai’s press conference in Kota Kinabalu.
The mood in my home state was raw.
Less than a month after Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which ruled the state for nine years, formed the state government, it was hit by defections.
PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, in an action which many described as honourable, quit as chief minister. And Sakaran of Umno was sworn in to the top post in the state.
Many Sabahans felt cheated.
PBS had won the 1994 Sabah polls by 25 seats while the Umno-led Sabah Barisan won 23 seats out of 48 seats.
The Pairin-led government won the seats despite a rigged election where there was gerrymandering and allegations of phantom voters.
The PBS frogs had betrayed the rakyat’s mandate.
RE: The Sabah Saga