Will he or will he not contest in next state election? Fadillah not giving any clue

KUCHING, Jan 31 2026: Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof rather not answer a question if he would be contesting in the coming Sarawak state election which is likely to be held at the end of this year. 

 PBB senior vice president Fadillah Yusof, who is also Petra Jaya Member of Parliament 

He sidestepped the question from a reporter who asked him if he would contest in the state election.

The Petra Jaya Member of Parliament described the question as hypothetical.

Fadilah, who is also GPS chief parliamentary whip and senior vice president of PBB, however, predicted that the state election is likely to be held this year.

Separately, Premier Abang Johari Openg said that there is no pressing need for him to call for an early election.

However, he said the election must be held once the term of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) comes to an end.

“When the term ends, we do indeed have to hold the state election, but not in the near future, as there is still a long period remaining,” he said when met reporters opening of the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS) in Semengoh, Penrissen Road, today.

The last state election was held on December 16, 2021, with GPS winning 76 seats while the rest, by opposition parties.

The Sarawak State Assembly has 82 seats.

PBK president challenges GPS MPs to table a motion in Parliament on the restoration of oil and gas rights

KUCHING, Jan 31 2026:  Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) today issued a direct and public challenge to the Sarawak GPS government and all Sarawak Members of Parliament to table a motion that he has drafted on the restoration of Sarawak’s oil and gas rights in Parliament.

Voon Lee Shan:  if GPS MPs refuse to act, Sarawakians will draw their own conclusion that GPS fears Putrajaya more than it respects Sarawak.

Its president Voon Lee Shan said Sarawakians are no longer impressed by slogans, speeches, or staged outrage from the GPS MPS amd ministers.

“Sarawakians are not asking for speeches. We are asking for action,” Voon said, adding that as PBK president he said if GPS MPs truly defend Sarawak, they should have no fear tabling motion in Parliament.

“It’s not seditious - nothing is inciting against the King and its not anti Malaya - no violence - but, it is about protecting our constitutional right.

“We are here to back you up,” Voon, who is also a practising lawyer, said.

He stressed that for decades, Sarawak has been told to be patient while its oil and gas resources are controlled, regulated, and monetised by Putrajaya through the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA74) and Petronas.

“Today, that injustice has reached a breaking point with Petronas and its subsidiaries taking legal action against the Sarawak government itself,” he said.

Voon said PBK knows that Petronas suing the Sarawak government is not normal and not acceptable.

“It is a direct challenge to Sarawak’s constitutional authority, and Parliament must not stay silent,” he said.

Voon said he has prepared a motion for the GPS MPs to table in Parliament, saying that the motion is clear, principled, and lawful.

Among others, Voon  said, the motion calls for a repeal or amendment to federal laws that have stripped Sarawak and Sabah of ownership and control over their oil and gas resources.

It also calls for the restoration of full legislative and proprietary rights to the states; an end to Petronas using the courts to intimidate or override state authority without Parliamentary approval. 

“If GPS truly believes in defending Sarawak’s rights, there is nothing to fear from tabling this motion.

“But if GPS MPs refuse to act, Sarawakians will draw their own conclusion that GPS fears Putrajaya more than it respects Sarawak,” Voon said.

 

Grievances of Sarawakians and Sabahans are the results of decades of neglect, broken promises that have reached breaking point, activist tells Putrajaya

KUCHING, Jan 31 2026: The federal government should note of the grievances from parliamentarians, activists, and millions of Sarawakians and Sabahans on social media, activist Peter John Jaban said, pointing out that these are the results of decades of neglect, broken promises, and marginalisation that have reached a breaking point.

Peter John Jaban: The federal policies have historically favoured Malaya, resulting in slower growth, poor rural connectivity, and under-investment in education and healthcare. 

He said the rights of these two Borneo regions under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remain ignored, leaving them to question whether their voices, identity, and future are truly respected.

“Sarawak and Sabah are rich in resources, culture, and diversity, yet decisions affecting their people are too often centralised in Kuala Lumpur, leaving Sarawakians and Sabahans powerless over their own wealth, development, and future,”  he said in a statement.

Peter noted that federal policies have historically favoured Malaya, resulting in slower growth, poor rural connectivity, and under-investment in education and healthcare.

“Worse still, Petronas is now dragging both the Sarawak and federal governments to court over resource disputes, showing once again that East Malaysian rights are challenged rather than respected.

“Combined with corruption, abuse of power, and mismanagement mostly occurring in Malaya  the discontent among Sarawakians and Sabahans is real and widespread,” he said.

He noted that high-profile corruption scandals, mismanagement of public funds, and abuse of power in Malaya have further siphoned resources meant to benefit all Malaysians, potentially tarnishing the good name of Sarawak and Sabah, especially Sarawak, which is in a crucial development phase and actively attracting foreign investors.

He said that Sarawakians and Sabahans are now uncomfortable being drawn into political, ideological, and racial tensions and instability that we did not create.

He said the people of Sarawak and Sabah deserve a future grounded in equality, transparency, and harmony, where every community is respected, every voice matters, and the will of over 6.9 million East Malaysians is honoured.

King Sing criticises SUPP for allegedly disregarding PDP in the appointments of community leaders and headmen in Dudong, Bawang Assan

SIBU, Jan 31 2026: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing has criticised SUPP for allegedly regarding the appointments and swearing in  of community leaders and headmen in Dudong and Bawang Assan state constituencies.

Tiong King Sing: Some  irresponsible SUPP party leaders manipulating other’s party constituencies selection process for selfish political interests. 

He said the appointments were transparently discussed by the Selection Committee, and consensus had already been reached during a meeting.

“However, several candidates were added, removed, or even replaced without authorisation. This is akin to slap in the face of decision-making by consensus.

“If this is how matters are handled, we should just dissolve the Selection Committee and let Dr Sim decide everything on his own,” Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, said in a statement posted on his Facebook.

He said any appointment of a community leader or tuai rumah must proceed with the consent of the local elected representative.

“Yet SUPP has chosen to bypass  PDP’s elected representatives. This is clearly a political disrespect,” Tiong, who is also Dudong State Legislative Member (SLM), said, stressing that bypassing PDP’s elected representatives “violates our cultural and political norms, even humiliates our coalition partnership in GPS.”

He reminded SUPP that the authority to appoint community leaders and tuai rumah belongs to the longhouse communities and grassroots.

“It has never been the political asset of any party and no single party can monopolise or manipulate it. “It is dishonest to say that a single party can decide the appointments on its own.

“It disrespects the people’s will, and will only deepen social division and raise confrontation,” he added.

Tiong, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture,  claimed that some individuals, particularly certain Kapitans who were absent during the recent floods, have long lost the trust of the people, adding that these these individuals were those the grassroots demanded to be replaced.

“However, after the selection process had been completed in line with established procedures, the decision was overturned at the last minute in the name of the State Secretary, replacing them with candidates earlier rejected by the grassroots.

He accused irresponsible SUPP party leaders manipulating other’s party constituencies selection process for selfish political interests.

“This act is clearly a political overreach, violating established responsibility and long-standing norms upheld by GPS.

“This act was not done in consensus and we were only informed at the very last moment to attend, leading to the lack of PDP leaders attending the ceremony,” he said, adding that this is nothing less than a deliberate act of humiliation that we cannot tolerate.

Tiong also said there are a lot of such repeated interference in PDP constituencies, but no such “enthusiasm” is seen in PBB or PRS constituencies.

“Is it because PDP is considered "easy to bully"? Or because an election is approaching, prompting this urge to “flex muscles” and show off how “powerful” that SUPP?”

“If the SUPP truly believes that PDP’s participation is unnecessary, including in the upcoming elections, then it should state so openly and clearly, instead of resorting to unilateral behind-the-scene actions,” Tiong said.