With elections called for 26th September, Sabahans will decide their state government in competitive polls. Over ten political parties, scores of independent candidates, and different varieties of political ‘frogs’ will square off in 73 different seats to win over the 1.12 million voters. At stake is not only the fate of the leadership of Sabah, but the first competitive election for the national government led by Muhyiddin Yassin. Three experts with on the ground field experience discuss the context, contests and contentious issues. Discussion centers on how Sabah is unique, and the need to rethink paradigms to understand the complex and different drivers shaping Borneo politics.
Details
Date: 10 September 2020, Thursday
Time: 15:00 to 16:30
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Presenters:
Dr Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate, Asia Research Institute, University of Nottingham Malaysia specialises in Southeast Asian politics, with a focus on Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia. An author and editor of numerous books, reports and articles, her research examines electoral behavior, democracy and socio-political transformations in the region. Her latest book is forthcoming: A Divided Malaysia: The Rise and Fall of Pakatan Harapan. She is a columnist at Malaysiakini and a core member of the Asia Barometer Survey, Senior Research Associate of the Hu Feng Center for East Asia Democratic Studies of National Taiwan University and a Senior Associate Fellow of The Habibie Center.
Dr Vilashini Somiah, Lecturer of Gender Studies, University of Malaya, is a Sabahan anthropologist who received her PhD from the National University of Singapore. Her work focused on underrepresented narratives of women, youth, migrants and marginalised Borneans living in the interiors. With over a decade of research experience, Dr Somiah has produced interdisciplinary research in the fields of history, politics, and socio-economy drawing from ethnography and extensive fieldwork.
Sabahan Philip Golingai is a news editor at The Star Media Group. He writes two columns, One Man’s Meat on Wednesdays for The Star Online and It’s Just Politics for The Star on Sundays. He was the Asia News Network editor and The Star’s Thailand correspondent in Bangkok from 2006 to 2010. He has won four Malaysia Press Institute Awards.