Questions on GPS-PH partnership ahead of Sarawak polls

Political analysts are split over the dynamics in Sarawak, with no formal cooperation yet inked between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) for the upcoming state election despite collaboration through a coalition government at the federal level. 

James Chin of Australia's University of Tasmania said DAP and PKR, PH's main components, would become "part opposition" and take on the task of monitoring government affairs. 

"They will not close their Sarawak chapter because the election is coming," he said. 

"PH hopes to form the Sarawak government one day. If you close shop, then you don't have machinery and you can't fight GPS at the next election." 

GPS comprises Barisan Nasional's (BN) former components in Sarawak: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Parti Demokratik Progresif, Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak and Parti Rakyat Sarawak.

Their 23 MPs joined hands to form the federal government with PH, BN and other political parties in the aftermath of the Nov 19 polls. 

According to Chin, one of GPS' unofficial conditions of support for Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister was that no Cabinet position be given to Sarawak DAP. 

This was despite DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook flying to Sarawak and meeting with premier Abang Johari Openg to apologise on behalf of his party for any hurtful remarks. 

GPS had initially supported Perikatan Nasional (PN) but switched to PH after the inconclusive election results which saw no single party winning enough seats to form the government on its own. 

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen previously said that his party would take on the role of providing checks and balances at the state level. His remarks were seen as a signal that PH would not be accepted as the Sarawak government. 

GPS won the December 2021 state election by a landslide, sweeping 76 of the 82 seats it contested. The remaining seats were won by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (four) and DAP (two).

PKR meanwhile failed to win a single seat. 

In Melaka, meanwhile, PH assemblymen have officially joined the government bloc. 

But question marks remain over the position of BN representatives in PH-held states, and whether they are part of the government or opposition. 

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said PH and GPS could be expected to agree on a formula to ensure political cooperation at the state level, including on the matter of seat allocations. 

While both coalitions are expected to retain their present seats, he said, others like Saratok which was won by Ali Biju would depend on other factors. 

"There is no issue of PH giving way to GPS at either the state or federal level," he said. 

"On the contrary, it will use a more convincing formula for long-term cooperation to eliminate any conflict over seats." 

But in the run-up to the state election, he said, DAP and PKR should play the role of opposition in Sarawak to ensure checks and balances. 

Chin meanwhile said that cooperation between GPS and PH would depend on the integrity of the central government. 

He said there would be nothing strange about PH remaining in the opposition at the state level as this had happened before. 

"In the late 1980s, Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak was the opposition at the state level but part of the federal government," he said. 

"There would be nothing strange about PH in Sarawak acting as a semi-opposition while GPS is the ruling party." 

In the event that PH and GPS agree to cooperate at the upcoming election, the question then becomes who will play the role of the opposition. 

Chin said parties in favour of Sarawak's secession from Malaysia, such as Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), had no strong support. 

"PBK is a spent force," he said. "It will be very difficult to build up its support unless GPS messes up its participation in the government. 

"So far, the people of Sarawak are quite happy," he added. "They have five full ministers and six deputy ministers – a remarkable number for a party with 23 MPs."