Harapan should start courting GPS

 

It is true that Sarawakians in general are wary of Umno and that is more distinct now than ever as we enter the 15th general election (GE15) where polling has been scheduled for Nov 19.

The lack of trust in Umno and Malayan political parties among Sarawakians has been there for a long time. Happily, Umno has never set foot in Sarawak but its leaders have always maintained a close, healthy relationship with PBB and Sarawak BN component parties.

This marriage of convenience had existed for the mutual benefit of the ruling parties from both sides for decades. It came to an abrupt end after the BN was defeated in GE14 in 2018.

It is also fair to say that Chinese Malaysians in general are most fearful of Umno because of the immense power the party wielded, its tainted leaders and protracted ‘ketuanan Melayu’ policies.

Hence, Chinese-based parties like MCA and SUPP which are perceived to be aligned with Umno, whether in or outside BN, would incur the wrath of the Chinese voters. MCA, SUPP, LDP, SAPP and Gerakan had a disastrous GE14 in 2018 because of their association with Umno/BN.

Last Monday, SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian came out to defend his party and GPS on a DAP-perpetuated allegation that voting for GPS is the same as voting for Umno. He rubbished the notion and described such talks as a tactic by the opposition, particularly the DAP, to confuse voters.

SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian

“Now DAP are saying that voting GPS will be like voting for Umno. I do not know who votes for Umno (in Sarawak). There is no Umno in Sarawak.

“Yet DAP themselves, particularly the MPs, received allocations from the prime minister who is from Umno (in the previous federal government). Their secretary-general Anthony Loke even said they are not discounting forming the (next) government with Umno,” added Sim who is also a deputy premier of Sarawak.

Sim said it was clear who was actually working with Umno as he pointed to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Transformation and Political Stability inked between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan, which involved government allocation for opposition-held constituencies.

The voters are aware of who is telling the truth and who is lying, added Sim, who also advised DAP leaders to look at their own skeletons in the closet. A prominent DAP leader is currently facing corruption charges in court involving millions, so DAP people should look at themselves in the mirror before throwing stones at others, Sim added.

No permanent friend or enemy

At this juncture, perhaps it makes sense for Harapan leaders in Sarawak to stop antagonising GPS because in politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy. Who knows what will happen after the dust settles on the night of Nov 19?

On record, GPS is going solo into GE15 and is not seeking any assistance from Malayan parties, either friendly or otherwise.

GPS chair and Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has declared that the Sarawak ruling coalition will be contesting on its own this GE15, but will negotiate which parties to work with to form the new government on the night of polling day on Nov 19.

Since 2018, after GPS left BN, it has been politically independent and has been carrying out development projects and planning on its own. While federal politics have been messy and unstable since the Sheraton putsch in 2020, the GPS government held on tight and rallied Sarawakians to support and embrace its programmes and plans of action.

To his credit, Abang Johari has also been quite successful in managing Sarawak and providing political stability, earning the trust and confidence of Sarawakians in the process. That is why in the Sarawak election called in December last year, GPS won by a landslide and this was seen as a stamp of approval for Abang Johari’s leadership and his GPS coalition.

Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg

One important factor stood out for Abang Jo’s success story – he kept most of his promises to Sarawakians and managed to build a rapport with them based on trust and mutual respect. It pays for government leaders to keep their promises to the people.

A BN vs Harapan fight

At federal level, GE15 is widely seen as a battle between Umno/BN and Harapan. Let’s get real – the other coalitions like Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA), Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) or other splinter groups are unlikely to create any impact.

I think GPS is prepared to be courted by the coalition which is able to provide political stability and form a majority government. This is where I think GPS has made the correct move by going solo into GE15 and keeping its options open. Abang Jo and GPS can choose the best suitor that comes along.

Harapan leaders at federal level should advise their boys in Sarawak to be wary of “friends and enemies” going into GE15. Sarawak Harapan today is a pale shadow of its former self and is not expected to perform better than GE14.

Pundits are giving the DAP/PKR combo at most four seats. Amanah, like PAS, is a wash-out in Sarawak.

If I were a Harapan leader today, I would be courting GPS right now and not only after Nov 19 for a possible tie-up. The same goes for Sabah’s Warisan.

I’m not sure whether Anwar Ibrahim, Rafizi Ramli, Mohamad Sabu or Anthony Loke are interested at all in having allies from Sarawak and Sabah. If so, I’m not sure if they are doing anything about it. Waiting for Nov 19 to act might be too little too late.

My guess is that Umno/BN will probably be GPS’s first choice of a partner but in the event Harapan wins big while Umno fares miserably, anything can happen.

Abang Jo has repeated in Kuching this week again that GPS will give its support to the party that can form a strong and stable federal government after GE15, just as it did in backing Muhyiddin to form a government in 2020 because GPS valued the country’s stability.

I think I can take the Sarawak premier’s word for it. Leaders in the various federal coalitions should too. I think they should start sending feelers to Sarawak and Sabah leaders soonest. - Mkini

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.