Going it alone, without BN, better for Sarawak parties, say analysts

They say in order to survive the next polls, the coalition ruling Sarawak should not be seen as an associate of BN.

Najib Razak with BN supporters in Sarawak in the run-up to the recent elections. (Bernama pic)

KUCHING: An analyst has urged Barisan Nasional (BN) parties in Sarawak to exit the coalition, so that they would not be associated with the former ruling party following its polls defeat recently.

Sarawak BN comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

“Exiting from BN and forming their own united coalition is necessary in order not to be synonymous with BN whose popularity has diminished and is being rejected by the people,” academic Awang Azman Awang Pawi told Bernama.

He said they should take immediate steps to rebrand themselves or risk losing not less than 30% to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in future.

He said BN’s win in the 2016 state election was due to the popularity of the late Adenan Satem.

“Adenan’s absence in Sarawak politics after his death has undoubtedly, affected the popularity of Sarawak BN component parties.

“Without Adenan’s popularity factor, Sarawak BN’s performance is expected to fall by at least 20% of the total seats,” he added.

PBB vice-president Karim Abdul Rahman Hamzah said there was a strong possibility the ruling coalition in Sarawak would leave BN to set up a new coalition party.

Meanwhile, another political analyst, Jeniri Amir said a new coalition was the best move for the Sarawak BN.

He said Sarawak BN had to take the drastic step by leaving BN and establishing a new political entity. - FMT