Umno, MCA, MIC and the other BN components pre-GE14 in 2018 understood it all along.
In Sarawak, PBB is the big brother and the boss. BN partners in Malaya have no business in Sarawak politics and do not get a single seat to contest, either at the state or parliamentary level, in the Borneo territory.
This was the then Sarawak BN’s way and everyone, including big boss Umno, respected it. In fact, they were happy with this arrangement as long as the “fixed deposit” of the Sarawak BN was ensured.
Fast forward to today. BN no longer exists in Sarawak. It is history! After BN’s defeat in GE14 in 2018, the coalition’s components in Sarawak, namely PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP, announced their resignation from BN and formed their own group, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Sarawak will be staging its 12th state election next month. After the Election Commission meets on Nov 24, an announcement on the nomination and polling dates is expected. I expect polling on the weekend of Dec 18-19, which is less than a month away.
It has been made clear by PBB top leaders that GPS will be contesting all the 82 state assembly seats in Sarawak. There is no room for its Perikatan Nasional (PN) allies Bersatu, PAS and the others.
BN, Umno in particular, is well aware of this arrangement with Sarawak. This is why Umno has never set up a Sarawak chapter. With this understanding and the cordial Umno/GPS ties, I do not expect Umno to even think of contesting in Sarawak, now or ever.
I would suggest to the PN components, especially Bersatu and PAS, to stop dreaming. GPS will not be allocating any seats for them. You must be hallucinating if you think you will be getting seats to contest.
I understand that clearly, even as a non-politician, so why is it so difficult for Bersatu and PAS leaders to let that sink into their heads?
Political stability
PBB vice-president Abdul Karim Hamzah has said it many times over the past few months. His statements were widely carried by the Sarawak media.
GPS had supported the (PN) federal government to ensure political stability, and hoped the federal government would leave the governing of Sarawak to the local-based political parties.
“We give our support to the federal government but it does not indicate that we are together as a partner.
“We might be partners in Parliament but it does not mean PN parties are also our partners in Sarawak,” Karim, who is Sarawak’s youth and sports minister, had stressed.
However, he also said that it was up to the respective political party if they wished to contest in the state election, and he was confident that Sarawakian voters were mature enough to know who to vote for.
He noted that PAS had contested in the state elections in the past and a majority of their candidates had lost their deposit.
Meantime, SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian pointed out that his party has zero ties with PAS, even though they were "allies" in the federal government.
Responding to a common and well-rehearsed claim of the Sarawak DAP that SUPP has also supported some of PAS’ extreme views and actions, Sim said this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Leaders of his Chinese-based party, according to Sim, have never sat down with PAS leaders for any discussion on any matter at all.
“It is clear that SUPP and PAS do not have any relationship, apart from being partners at the federal government. That is only due to our partnership in GPS”, he explained to Malaysiakini.
Sim, who is also Sarawak’s minister for local government and housing, also reiterated his party’s stand not to be involved in issues bordering on extremism and fanaticism or petty squabbles with their opponents during the election campaign in Sarawak.
“SUPP under my leadership will embark on a clean, mature and responsible campaign. Let the people decide. There is no need to indulge in petty fights during an election campaign. I hope the opposition will act likewise,” Sim said.
The SUPP president also called on Bersatu and PAS not to contest in Sarawak.
“Just like Umno, MCA and MIC, please follow tradition. Respect Sarawak and leave Sarawak to Sarawakians,” Sim added.
Rejected in Malacca
With the humiliation they suffered at the just-concluded Malacca election, both Bersatu and PAS should know why they were rejected by the voters in Malacca.
Is it because BN, especially Umno, is so strong and so well-liked now? Probably, but I believe the main reason is that Malaccans know too well that Bersatu is a party of traitors and backstabbers lacking in decency and dignity. It is difficult to trust a party like Bersatu.
PAS’ recent controversies on Timah whiskey, banning 4D outlets and restricting the sale of alcohol did not go down well with the voters of Malacca too.
Indeed, PAS should take serious note of why one of its own, Bachok MP Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, had sent a condolence message to his own party whose candidates had unofficially lost their deposits in seven out of eight contested seats in Malacca.
"BN, be truly grateful and even more grateful. For PAS, truly look within ourselves. Increase our dedication," Nik Abduh said in a Facebook post.
And from a Sarawakian, my message to Bersatu and PAS is kind of similar.
“Don’t waste your time in Sarawak. We, Sarawakians, do not need your kind of treacherous politics (Bersatu) and extremism and fanaticism (in the case of PAS) in our homeland.
Just stay away from our turf. Leave us alone. We are happy just the way we are. We handle our elections our own way. - Mkini
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is the author of “Hijack in Malaysia: The Fall of Pakatan Harapan”. Obtain autographed copies from sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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