State and human rights activist Peter John Jaban hinting of him contesting as an independent in next month's state election

KUCHING, Nov 12 2026: A well-known and outspoken state and human rights activist Peter John Jaban has hinted of a possibility of him contesting as an independent candidate in next month's state election.

Caption: State and human rights activist Peter John Jaban argues that independent representatives could provide an important balance in the legislature by raising grassroots concerns, particularly those affecting marginalised communities, without being constrained by party positions or political considerations.

However, he has yet to disclose the constituency that he intends to contest, would do so at the last minute which of the state's 82 constituencies he would stand in.

He said independent candidates should be given serious consideration in the Sarawak election as they offer voters an alternative beyond established political parties, particularly fence-sitters and those seeking representatives who will prioritise constituency interests over party allegiance.

Peter said voters should not feel compelled to choose only between Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the existing opposition, insisting that independent candidates could provide a different form of representation without necessarily being adversarial towards the state government.

He said even if GPS secured a clean sweep, as some analysts have predicted, voters should consider the implications for democratic representation, legislative scrutiny and checks and balances in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA).

“While acknowledging that a strong GPS mandate would reflect public confidence in Premier Abang Johari Openg's leadership and policies, and could contribute to political stability, efficient government and economic growth, the performance and suitability of individual constituency representatives should be assessed separately,” he told Sematong Express when asked about a meeting of social activists in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, to push for the setting up of an Alliance of Independents for the next parliamentary election.

He said independent representatives could provide an important balance in the legislature by raising grassroots concerns, particularly those affecting marginalised communities, without being constrained by party positions or political considerations.

He stressed that being independent did not automatically mean being an opposition representative, adding that independent representatives could support government policies that benefited their constituents while questioning or opposing decisions when necessary.

“We respect political parties and acknowledge their important role in our democratic system. However, the people's interests must always come first.

“We are not against any political parties. We believe that the interests of the people should never be secondary to party interests.

“Independent does not necessarily mean opposition. It means having the freedom to make decisions based on what is best for the people,” he pointed out.

He said the fundamental distinction is that an independent elected representative is directly accountable to the people who vote for them, rather than being obliged to follow a political party's agenda or instructions.

Describing the responsibility of an elected representative, he said: “An independent candidate is elected to be a Wakil Rakyat (people's representative), not a Wakil Parti (party's representative).

“A Member of the SLA is elected by the people, for the people. The people who elected you must always come first.”

Peter pointed out that political parties had their respective constitutions, rules and regulations, which members were expected to observe, including respecting leadership decisions. Members who went against party leadership or breached party rules could face disciplinary action.

Independent representatives, however, would not be bound by such party structures or expected to support decisions merely to protect a party's political interests.

He said this freedom would allow them to propose legislation independently, raise constituency-specific issues that might not feature in government policies and speak up for people whose concerns might otherwise receive insufficient attention.

Peter also observed that a possible GPS clean sweep would, to some extent, reflect public perceptions of the existing opposition and its relationship with GPS in the august House.

He said an adversarial opposition approach might not necessarily reflect the aspirations of Sarawakians in the state's current political and economic circumstances, adding that independent candidates could offer another avenue for constructive representation, scrutiny and accountability.

He further emphasised the importance of working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other social groups to address issues affecting local communities.

“We will work with NGOs and other social groups to focus on issues concerning our constituencies, with particular priority given to the elderly, persons with disabilities and young people,” he said.