Analysts: PSB is GPS's closest competitor, not Harapan

 

SARAWAK POLLS | Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) is seen as the closest challenger to the ruling coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), in this weekend's state election having overtaken Pakatan Harapan.

The view was voiced unanimously by Merdeka Center programme director Ibrahim Suffian, Prof James Chin from the University of Tasmania, and Arnold Puyok from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

They said this as panellists for a webinar entitled 'Sarawak State Elections: Who is the Voter's Choice?' which was held last night.

Arnold admitted to being surprised to see that the capabilities of PSB, which was founded just seven years ago, in terms of publicity (putting up flags, posters and banners) were “not inferior” to GPS.

"If you go to a coffee shop, they only say the colour, 'red'," he said, referring to the colour of the PSB flag, which he said drowned GPS and DAP in the flag war.

"The real competitor is PSB compared to Harapan," he added in a webinar organised by Merdeka Center and Dialektika TV hosted by Liyana Marzuki.

 For Chin, PSB's popularity is partly because it is led by a very experienced politician - Wong Soon Koh, who has held various positions in the Sarawak cabinet when he was part of the former BN government - besides fielding some candidates of high calibre who have also been important figures in the state government.

“Even the party's manifesto is produced so beautifully and is comparable to the GPS manifesto - it is even better because it actually conveys the truth,” he said.

The publicity campaign by PSB, Chin said, gave an idea of the strong financial backing the party had.

For example, he said the price of the flag could reach up to RM10 apiece during the election season.

"This flag war is just a symbol of how much resources the party has," he added.

Arnold, on the other hand, despite feeling that many voters did not even read the manifesto of the competing parties in detail, was of the view that a simpler PSB manifesto was more effective than the GPS manifesto.

During the campaign period so far, the PSB manifesto was found to have been published in major Sarawak newspapers, covering several full pages.

Still a GPS stroll

Even so, the analysts still see the GPS route to winning as wide open without being stopped by any party.

The election is not about losing or winning for GPS or a possible change of administration, but more about the extent to which the coalition could dominate the state legislative assembly.

The key component party of GPS is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) which has held the chief ministership since 1970, often governing with overwhelming majorities.

Arnold does not see GPS as being capable of winning more than 70 seats, but is confident the coalition will bag at least 55 seats - still with a two-thirds majority.

In total, there are 82 seats up for grabs in the Sarawak state election.

 Chin said the election this time was more as a key performance indicator of the leadership of Chief Minister Abang Johari Abang Openg as well as the rebranding of GPS with the slogan 'Sarawak first'.

"This is not an election that brings a turning point. In fact, I think, using the term 'election' may be wrong. It is actually a referendum on the rebranding of GPS, and a referendum on Abang Jo, ”he said.

He added that the election also has its own significance for GPS as this is the first time it is contesting under its own name and symbol, and not the BN dacing symbol.

For Ibrahim, the election is important to GPS in many ways, as it is seen as a potential partner in the next general election, both by the Perikatan Nasional alliance led by Bersatu and PAS and the Umno-BN coalition.

"How the GPS performs in this election will be an indicator of the GPS performance in the general election later.

“There are clear indications that both BN and PN are trying to fish for GPS support, and GPS needs to show its potential partners that it is strong and can win seats.

“More importantly, the more seats GPS win, the more seats it can ask for in the future.

 "This is because GPS is no longer just a fixed deposit but is now a 'king maker' - the party can build or tear down a government," he said.

Ibrahim also said the state election would be closely watched by many politicians in the peninsula, as it would affect the political dynamics at the national level.

“If GPS wins comfortably, it means the mood (of the people) is in its favour, (so) the party will want to demand that the general election be held earlier. In fact, rumours claim that it could be before Ramadan (in March) "he added.

Another rival party, Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), which has been touting the independence of Sarawak from Malaysia as its key agenda, is not seen to be too impactful.

For Chin, this is not the first time the issue of secession has been brought up but based on past records, backing the goal as a key issue was not a good move, given that candidates who had done so before all lost their deposits.

In total, GPS is contesting all 82 seats, PBK (72 candidates), PSB (70), Harapan (62), Gabungan Anak Sarawak (25), Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (five) and PAS one, while 30 independent candidates are also part of the fray.

Voting day is this Saturday. - Mkini