KUCHING: Expect movements of elected representatives, politicians and parties like never before, now that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is registered as a coalition party for Sarawakians.
This is the view of political analyst and university lecturer Prof James Chin when asked if the equation on seats allocation in GPS will see some modification.
“Now that GPS is registered and new parties are coming into the coalition, you can expect some movements. Ex-YBs (elected representatives) and other politicians who were dropped or displaced by GE14 (14th general election) and SE2106 (state election 2016) will be looking to use this opportunity to join one of the GPS parties and re-launch their political career,” he claimed yesterday.
“The big problem is actually not GPS but how they will divide up the seats for the next state election with only 82 candidates on offer and only 11 seats held by Pakatan Harapan (PH) up for grabs. I am not sure they can manage the process. You have to remember that candidate selection was key to rural Sarawak seats in the last general election (GE14),” he added.
He said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) in particular lost seats because of candidate selection issues.
He was referring to last minute change of incumbent candidates; namely Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun (Selangau) and Datuk William Nyalau (Lubok Antu) to new faces which created upheavals within Barisan Nasional (BN) and golden opportunity for the opposition to capitalise on.
Chin said he suspected the old game of being protected as the incumbent will not apply for Dayak seats as PH momentum is there and also all Bidayuh seats are now shaky.
“The good news for GPS is that they have time, up to one and half more years before they decide and so now they can test new and the recycled candidates,” Chin said.
GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB)– most dominant with 45 seats) – PRS, Sarawak United People’s Party and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Chin anticipates Parti Sarawak Bersatu, new name for United People’s Party (UPP), will be accepted into GPS now that the rule of acceptance is that only three of four components need to agree.