Sarawak PH does not have a chance to wrest power from GPS, unless there is a huge support from the Dayaks and Malays

By Simon Peter

While I am agreeable with some of the views expressed by political analysts on Sarawak's politics, I do not think it is that easy for Sarawak PH to wrest power from GPS in the next state election.

Sarawak PH needs a Malay leader of equal standing with Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg

In theory, it may sound achievable. But in reality, it is not that simple.

There are no doubts that there are discontents among the Dayak community over NCR land issues, recruitment and promotions in the state civil service and lack of business opportunities. But these are not the strongest of reasons for the majority of them to swing to Sarawak PH.

The Dayaks, especially the Ibans, need a leader who can be rely upon to speak continuously on issues that are dear and close to the hearts of the community. I don't see this kind of leader emerging among the present crop of Sarawak PH-PKR leadership.

I would like to think that Baru  Bian may be that kind of leader that the Dayaks need. But sadly, the Ibans know him well because of his legal battles on the  NCR land issues, but they have yet to fully accept him as the Dayak leader from Sarawak PH that they can rely upon.

What the Ibans  really need is another Daniel Tajem - a man highly regarded by his friends and foes. Until his death last year,  the Ibans are still searching for his replacement.

The present leaders of GPS (then they were in the BN before)  have great respect for him. In fact, they feared him because of his great influence among the Iban community.

Tajem was forced to retire from active politics after PBDS, which he led, was deregistered by Registrar of Societies (RoS).

But his legacy as a man free from corruption and his strong beliefs in defending the rights of the Dayaks is very much alive today.

Unless the Sarawak PH can find another Tajem, the majority of the Ibans would rather stick to GPS in the 2021 state elections.

The same goes with the Malays.

The Sarawak PH also does not have a Malay leader that the community can generally look upon. It is safe to assume that the majority of the Malays will look at a Malay leader in a political first before throwing their support.

I don't see any Malay leader in Sarawak PH that can command the support of the community. If there are, then they must be given sufficient exposure and groomed for  the people, especially the Malays, to know and study.

If Sarawak PH harbours  any hope of wresting power in Sarawak, it must have  a Malay leader of equal standing with Abang Johari Openg or even better.

Sarawak PH must groom a Malay leader  to be the next chief minister so to entice support from the Malay community.

I fully agree with some political analysts that Sarawak PH may win almost, if not all, the urban seats where the majority are Chinese., that is, if the past state and parliamentary elections are anything to go by.

For whatever reasons, the urban voters tend to throw their support behind the DAP since in the 1990s.

But then even winning all the urban seats, it is not enough for Sarawak PH to unseat  GPS from power.

Sarawak PH needs massive swing from the Dayak and Malay communities to take over power from GPS, which, I think, is not likely to happen in 2021.- February 2, 2019