I refer to Malaysiakini report Kurup's Pensiangan seat declared vacant .

Just when the country has gotten over the last by-election in Permatang Pauh, where the opposition stalwart Anwar Ibrahim won with a thumping majority, another by-election is looming in Sabah, where a parliamentary seat has been declared vacant by a high court judge.

While the Permatang Pauh by-election was a ‘walk in the park’ for the opposition, the same thing cannot be said of its impending battle to wrest the Pensiangan seat from BN.

The BN machinery will go all out to retain the seat in the coming by-election as they cannot afford to lose this precious parliament seat to the opposition.

PKR would also try their very best to win the seat as a victory for them would allow them to claim that the people want a change, and the sooner the better.

Regardless of whether or not September 16 takes place, the coming by-election in Sabah will be an explosive affair as a lot is at stake if either party loses in the by-election.

BN will claim that they still have the support of the people if they retain the seat. PKR will claim that people want to switch camps and support the opposition if they manage to wrest the seat from BN.

The embattled prime minister and his deputy cannot afford to lose another by-election after the debacle in Permamtang Pauh as sentiments are clear party members will revolt against their weak leadership if somehow BN loses this seat.

As usual, the big guns from both parties will go all out to lend support to their candidates and BN is again expected to use government machinery to shore up support and entice voters in the area to retain the incumbent.

This will be an acid test for PKR to win in Sabah in order to spread their wings to the land below the wind. But it will a tough call as Pensiangan is not Permatang Pauh and during the last general election, the state BN practically swept all the parliamentary seats except for one which went to DAP.

Sabahans are not like their peninsula counterparts who are politically savvy and one cannot dismiss the possibility of phantom voters making an appearance to tip the scales in BN’s favour.

Sabah and Sarawak are two states in the federation where natural resources and oil reserves are found in abundance and can lift its citizens out of abject poverty.

But like other third world countries which are resource-rich, their leaders, through corrupt practices and abuse of power, have swindled public funds, leaving the majority of the populace wallowing in poverty.

It will be interesting to see whether the winds of change which have practically knocked BN off its high pedestal, will have a similar effect in Sabah. This by-election will determine the future direction of our political landscape.

One thing is for sure, Malaysians need a new road map to take us out of this economic mess which has caused widespread misery. The present regime’s promise of reforms is moving at a snail’s pace and our embattled premier is facing pressures from all side to resign.

A strong leader with good leadership skills is needed to get us out of this mess. BN is in tatters with all their infighting, so we should look for an alternative leadership to fill the vacuum.

Hopefully Pensiangan folk, like those in Permatang Pauh will be brave enough to make the drastic decision to replace the incumbent MP with a new one for the betterment of the country.

This hotly contested seat in Sabah will be watched with interest by all parties to see whether BN still has what it takes to rule this country until the next election.

Or will a loss by the incumbent to the opposition mark a new beginning for the downfall of the present government? Only time will tell.