KOTA KINABALU: Political influencer Daniel Jani believes Sabah may once again be on the brink of electing a non-Muslim Chief Minister — a possibility the state has not seen through the ballot box in four decades.
Whether that historic shift happens, he says, may hinge on one decisive factor: the direction of the Chinese vote, long regarded as a powerful kingmaker in Sabah’s complex electoral landscape.
“The last time Sabah voted a non-Muslim Chief Minister into office was 40 years ago. That’s an incredibly long time,” Daniel noted.
“Yes, there were three non-Muslim Chief Ministers during the rotation system, but they were not chosen by the people — they were appointed by federal leaders in Malaya.”
Daniel, a Sarawakian, who has a huge social media following, argues that there is nothing wrong or divisive about Sabahans expressing the desire for such leadership. Sabah, much like Sarawak, has long prided itself on a political culture where people of different races and faiths coexist and govern together peacefully.
He recalled Sabah’s glory days when the Chinese and natives were solidly behind a non-Muslim Chief Minister in the person of Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
“The leaders in Malaya didn’t like it and we all know what they did to Sabah after that. Remember the Project IC?”
But he said the question stretches beyond ethnicity or religion. He believes Sabah now needs a leader capable of standing firm in negotiations with federal power brokers.
“Sabahans need someone who cannot be easily swayed by positions or other political ‘sweets.’ A leader who will not abandon the fight for Sabah under any circumstances,” said Daniel who discusses political issues affecting the lives of Sabahans and Sarawakians in relation to Malaya’s central powers.
On this note he suggests that STAR President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has the qualities for his fight for Sabah’s rights has defined his political activism and career for decades.
“No one suffered more as a result of the struggle like he did. Yet, despite being imprisoned, abandoned by party comrades and ridiculed, he never surrendered.”
“I think no matter how people perceive him, to me, he is a man that Malaya leaders can’t silence and subdue. They know he will fight for Sabah no matter what.”
To Daniel, this election is not merely about choosing the next Chief Minister. It is about deciding whether Sabah will choose a true Bornean defender, someone who will protect state rights with unwavering resolve.
Rumours on the ground suggest that many Chinese voters may be gravitating toward Warisan this time around. Daniel acknowledges this is their democratic right, but urges deeper reflection.
Warisan has declared it intends to form the government as a single party, contesting all 73 constituencies. Daniel, however, cautions that such ambitions depend entirely on whether they can secure a simple majority.
“If they fall short, they will need coalition partners. The question is: which party? And will those partners be from Malaya? It’s always possible.”
He points to Warisan’s political history, noting its previous alignment with Pakatan Harapan and later its alleged involvement with Umno in the so-called Kinabalu Move.
Daniel also encourages Chinese voters to evaluate whether their interests would be protected under a Warisan-led administration. He referenced past controversies surrounding remarks allegedly made by Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, urging voters to consider how such statements might reflect future governance.
