Gabungan Sabah – a coalition of Sabah-based opposition parties – have been struggling in their attempts to forge an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan Sabah ahead of the general election.

Sabah’s opposition is the most fragmented of all states in Malaysia, with five opposition parties and four independents presently holding seats in the 60-seat Sabah legislative assembly.

Gabungan Sabah’s desire to form a united front against BN has been fuelled by the ruling coalition’s wavering support.

BN won all but one seat in 2008. However, the coalition won just 48 in 2013, as the vote share dropped to just 55 percent...