Analysts ridicule Sarawak PKR’s appeal for seats from GPS

James Chin called the request ‘really stupid’, while Jayum Jawan says it gives the impression Sarawak PKR lacks confidence.

(FMT) – Two political analysts have ridiculed Sarawak PKR over its appeal for the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to make allowances for the party in its seat allocations for the next state election.

Last week, Sarawak PKR information chief Tay Wei Wei was reported to have called on GPS to be magnanimous and allow the party and Sarawak Pakatan Harapan to contest the seats they vied for, but lost to GPS, in the last state polls.

According to Sinar Harian, Tay’s remark came amid speculation that GPS may object to peninsula-based parties within the unity government contesting in the next state election, which must be held by April 2027.

James Chin of the University of Tasmania described Sarawak PKR’s request as “really stupid” since GPS, which dominates the state assembly, would never entertain the idea of making way for parties that form the opposition in Sarawak.

Sarawak PH is part of the unity government in Putrajaya but sits as the opposition in its state assembly.

“Why would you give out your seats to those who are not your friends?” Chin said.

Jayum Jawan of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said Sarawak PKR’s request suggested the state chapter lacked confidence and gave the impression it was afraid of GPS and its components.

“If PKR wants seats in the state assembly, it should just go and prove its worth,” Jayum said.

However, the two analysts agreed that Sarawak PKR’s decision to field candidates in the upcoming elections was the right move, in view of the fact that its president, Anwar Ibrahim, is the prime minister.

Chin said PKR will only be taken “seriously” if it contests in the Sarawak polls.

Jayum said while Sarawak PKR does not have a seat in the state assembly, it is still a “formidable challenger to any political party in Sarawak” given its position in the federal government.

“It is up to the voters to either accept or reject them,” he said, adding that any decision by Sarawak PKR to contest for state seats was unlikely to strain ties between GPS and PH as it was “strictly political”.

He said if PH fails to form the federal government at the next general election, GPS will be the first to shift its alliance to a new ruling coalition.

“It’s nothing personal,” said Jayum.

In the 2021 state election, all the 28 Sarawak PKR candidates lost to component parties from GPS.

Fellow PH component Amanah was also wiped out, while Sarawak DAP only managed to defend two of the seven seats it won in 2016.