Wong (eighth left) leads PSB leaders and a sea of red delegates behind them in shouting ‘Hidup PSB’ (Long Live PSB) during the party’s Annual Delegates Conference in Sibu on Saturday. Chin believes PSB is paying the price for having made big gains in Iban-majority seats, to the chagrin of PRS and PDP.
KUCHING: The recent unfolding of political events in Sarawak points to the possibility that the next state election could be held before 2021, says University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute director Professor James Chin.
Chin, who is an expert in governance issues in Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, said he believes Sarawakians can expect more political turbulence in the coming year as the state polls, due in mid-2021, inches closer.
“Everything you see now is related to the next state election, so expect more political turbulence in the coming year. The way the winds are blowing, the state election will have to be held soon or next year, rather than 2021,” he told The Borneo Post via WhatsApp yesterday.
Prompted for comments on what would come next for Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) following events which transpired over the past week, Chin said the real issue is whether or not Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would allow PSB to stand as a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-friendly party in the coming state polls.
The political analyst observed that PSB had been making significant inroads in Iban-majority seats ever since Datuk Joseph Entulu joined the party.
“He (Entulu) has led a strong push into Iban areas and transformed PSB into a real Dayak party. This (strong push into Iban areas) is the cause of all the political problems.
“So it is (a) problem of political success in disturbing PDP (Progressive Democratic Party) and PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak),” he said, referring to the two parties most affected by PSB gaining ground in Iban-majority seats.
If Abang Johari was to allow PSB to stand as a GPS-friendly party in the next state election, Chin said this would be similar to the old formula of Barisan Nasional-direct candidates subscribed in past state elections.
“If no, then PSB will have no future in GPS. Simple as that.”
According to him, PRS and PDP had been insisting for Abang Johari to kick out PSB for ‘disturbing the GPS balance’, but said nothing had come of it until the recent exclusion of PSB leaders from the new list of councillors in Sarawak.
Chin felt that the chief minister is in a difficult political situation, in that he must try to rally all the groups subscribing to his ‘Sarawak First’ slogan to go against the ‘Malaya-controlled’ Pakatan Harapan.
In order to garner all the support he can get, Chin opined that Abang Johari – in his capacity as GPS chairman – would have to include PSB in his plans.
“If he (Abang Johari) cuts off PSB, then he is creating a middle ground which will not be good for GPS.”
Chin also believed that regardless whether PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh resigns or is dropped from the State Cabinet, it would not alter the political situation outlined by him.
“The political dramas will end with the next state election,” he added.