By Voon Lee Shan
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) observes that the weaknesses of GPS are not merely perceptions among sections of the public; they are real political vulnerabilities that have accumulated after decades of uninterrupted rule.
GPS may appear invincible on paper, but history has repeatedly shown that governments do not lose power because they are weak. Governments lose power when they become complacent, disconnected from public expectations, and unable to deliver outcomes that match their promises.
The first weakness of GPS is that it continues to carry the legacy of the old political establishment. GPS may have changed its name, but PBK and many Sarawakians see it as a continuation of the same political system that has governed Sarawak for decades. Sixty years is long enough
After such a long period in power, voters are entitled to ask why so many issues involving Sarawak's constitutional rights under MA63 remain unresolved or only partially addressed.
The second weakness is the failure to secure a significantly greater share of Sarawak's oil, gas and tax revenues. Sarawak remains rich in natural resources, yet many Sarawakians continue to question whether the state is receiving its fair and rightful return. Despite GPS portraying itself as a powerful kingmaker in federal politics, the results achieved have fallen short of public expectations.
The third weakness is the increasing burden placed upon Sarawak to finance projects and infrastructure that should rightly be funded by the Federal Government. Instead of federal resources flowing into Sarawak, Sarawak's own funds are increasingly being used to fill federal shortcomings. This raises a serious question: has GPS become so accustomed to accommodating Putrajaya that it is allowing Sarawak's resources to be diverted from the state's own priorities?
The fourth weakness is the gap between political influence and political results. GPS frequently highlights its strategic importance in Kuala Lumpur, yet PBK received complaints from many Sarawakians who ask what tangible gains have emerged from that influence. Being a kingmaker means little if Sarawak continues to struggle for rights, revenue, and recognition that should already belong to it.
The fifth weakness lies in growing public concern over labour and demographic policies. If local communities perceive that foreign labour recruitment is expanding without sufficient protection for local employment opportunities, dissatisfaction could grow, particularly in rural constituencies where economic concerns remain acute.
PBK believes these issues represent more than isolated grievances. Taken together, they form a pattern of political fatigue, unfulfilled expectations, and growing frustration. GPS's greatest threat is not the opposition. Its greatest threat is the widening gap between the image of strength it projects and the results that many Sarawakians believe they have actually received.
The 13th Sarawak Election should not be viewed as a guaranteed victory for GPS. It may well become a referendum on whether decades of political dominance have genuinely advanced Sarawak's rights, wealth and future. If voters conclude that GPS has been strong in rhetoric but weak in securing Sarawak's interests, then what appears today to be an unassailable government could face its most serious electoral challenge in modern Sarawak history.
No government, regardless of how powerful it appears, is immune from defeat when the people decide that the time has come for change.
Editor's note: Voon Lee Shan is PBK president and senior lawyer
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