HEGEMONI BARISAN NASIONAL (BN) DI PARLIMEN SILAM: ANALISIS KE ATAS KEPUTUSAN PRU-11 HINGGA PRU-14

BARISAN NASIONAL (BN) HEGEMONY IN P188 SILAM: ANALYSIS FROM GE-11 TO GE-14

Abstract

Hegemoni BN di Silam termasuk Sabah bermula apabila UMNO berjaya melebarkan sayapnya ke Sabah tahun 1994. Klimaks kepada hegemoni ini ialah apabila Sabah menerima jolokan simpanan tetap kerana kemampuannya menyelamatkan BN daripada rebah angkara tsunami politik yang dikesan bermula 2004. Namun isu-isu berkaitan peningkatan kos sara hidup, kadar pengangguran di kalangan anak-anak muda, masalah kleptokrasi di kalangan ahli-ahli politik dan ledakan media sosial telah merubah landskap politik luar jangka menyebabkan hegemoni BN tersungkur pada PRU-14. Oleh itu makalah ini melihat kejayaan BN mengekalkan hegemoni di parlimen Silam dan bagaimana hegemoni ini berjaya ditamatkan oleh parti-parti non-BN terutamanya Warisan. Untuk merungkaikan masalah ini, keputusan pilihanraya bermula daripada PRU-11 dan siaran-siaran akhbar dianalisis. Di samping itu kajilidikan lapangan dilakukan bagi mengesah dan mengukuhkan dapatan. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahawa faktor pengekalan hegemoni BN sebelum PRU-14 banyak dipengaruhi oleh faktor nasional dan kekuatan jentera BN yang kukuh di samping agen-agen kerajaan berjaya digunakan untuk memberi gambaran yang baik terhadap BN. Namun PRU-14 BN di kuburkan di P.188 Silam termasuk ketiga-tiga DUN di dalamnya iaitu N.49 Tungku, N.50 Lahad Datu dan N.51 Kunak. Puncanya ialah isu-isu yang dihadapi oleh kerajaan berjaya dipersepsi secara buruk oleh kebanyakan media sosial yang dilihat anti BN menyebabkan berlakunya perubahan sikap rakyat terutamanya pengundi muda di saluran 3, 4 dan 5. 

Abstract

The BN Hegemony of Silam, including Sabah started when UMNO succeeded to spread its wings to Sabah in 1994. The climax of Sabah hegemony happened when it was able to save BN from drowning during the political tsunami that was detected since 2004. However, issues related to the increasing cost of living, unemployment among young people, the problem of kleptocracy among politicians and the explosion of social media have changed the political landscape and witnessed the collapse of BN hegemony in GE-14. Thus, this paper reviews the success of BN in maintaining its hegemony in Silam and how this hegemony was put to an end by non-BN parties especially Warisan. To explore this case, election results and press releases beginning GE-11 were analyzed. In addition, field surveys were conducted to confirm and strengthen the findings. The results of the analysis show that the factors maintaining BN's hegemony prior to GE-14 were heavily influenced by the national factor and the strength of BN’s machinery, as well as government agents who were successful in promoting a good impression of BN. However, during GE-14 BN failed to secure victory at P.188 Silam including the three state constituencies in N.49 Tungku, N.50 Lahad Datu and N.51 Kunak. The reason of this failure is due to anti-BN social media that managed to give negative perceptions of the issues faced by the government, resulting in a change of attitude in people, especially young voters in channels 3, 4 and 5.