Sistem Parti dan Kesan Domino Pemansuhan Enakmen Anti-Lompat Parti: Konflik dalaman UMNO Sabah Pasca PRU ke-14 dan ke-15 (Party System and Domino Effect of Abolishing The Anti-Party Hopping Enactment: UMNO Sabah Intra-Party Conflict GE-14 and GE-15)

Abstract

This paper adopts a narrative perspective to examine the domino effect of intra-party conflict within United Malay National Organization (UMNO) Sabah in the aftermath of Malaysia’s 14th and 15th General Elections. The fall of the Barisan Nasional (BN) regime marked the end of UMNO’s federal hegemony, accompanied by the loss of power in several states including Sabah. Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) successfully formed the state government while UMNO entered a period of political decline with many of its State Assembly Members (ADUNs) defecting in search of opportunities to align with the ruling coalition. The consequences of these legislative defections continued beyond GE15 when UMNO Sabah’s attempt to restore its support for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government, failed. This development triggered internal party fragmentation and repositioned UMNO Sabah as the opposition in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN). Theoretical frameworks on party institutionalization and party system closure (PSC) are employed to access the strength abd weakness of party stability. This case study applies a chronological content analysis as the main approach using a descriptive-interpretive qualitative method based on secondary source including scholarly literature credible media content and relevant academic journals for data collection and interpretation. The findings reveal that the domino effect originated from UMNO’s repeal of the anti-party hopping enactment in 1995 which has led to recurring waves of defections in the present. This phenomenon is conceptualized as a chain reaction that destabilizes the political system undermines UMNO’s prospects of regaining power and exacerbates its internal conflict. It is further reinforced by shift in the structure of political patronage and the dilution of coalition-based power-sharing. This study argues that the enactment of anti-party hopping law is both timely and necessary to prevent post-electoral legislative defectiobs. It contributes to a deeper understanding of Sabah’s political dynamics and strengthens the case for anti-defection laws as a vital mechanism for stabilizing and consolidating party institutions while restoring public trust ahead of the upcoming Sabah State
Legislative Assembly Election.