KUCHING: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Youth wing has suggested Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties consider seat swaps for the next state election.
Youth chief Robert Ayu said GPS should discuss the method commonly practised in Peninsular Malaysia, where seats are redistributed among components of political blocs and candidates switch constituencies.
According to him, this strategic approach will help increase the chances of victory for GPS in the coming state election and avoid the loss of seats where political opponents are favoured.
“You should keep in mind that one of the opponents we face include Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), which was once an ally but has now defected. And they are eyeing the seats of the GPS parties. In the upcoming election, if we do not form a united campaign strategy and cooperate well, chances for victory will be in danger.
“We need to realise that all the components of the GPS alliance must join forces, or lose it all. We need to unite in preparation for the state election to successfully defend the GPS government. We will not win with ongoing disputes and attacks on each other over seat distribution. All of this friction is not beneficial to GPS,” he said.
Stressing that politics changes with the times, Robert claimed sticking to the same old campaign strategies puts one in a cocoon.
“If a component party does not think ahead, personal interests will take over their priorities in the long run. This could lead to them using their authority and positions to suppress other component parties, which will also alienate them further from the grassroots,” he said.
Robert said PDP Youth unanimously concurred with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah’s recent statement that a certain component party had been reluctant to relinquish seats that it had lost numerous times.
He said selection of the right candidate should not hinge on any party’s historical claim on a constituency, because a party clinging onto a seat, out of self-interest, that it cannot win does not improve the coalition’s overall chances.
“I wish to stress that the GPS component parties should not regard their so-called traditional seats as their party assets. This adverse line of thinking will keep the party stagnant with ineffective performance records,” he said.
As such, Robert hoped the final distribution of seats for GPS parties will focus on the candidate’s grassroots work regardless of party membership.
“Enhancing goodwill and trust among the public is what will bring GPS to victory. And do not poison the well and sabotage the alliance as a form of protest,” he added.
In a recent interview, Abdul Karim was quoted as saying swapping of seats could be an option if voters have lost faith in the respective parties.
The Asajaya assemblyman was commenting on PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s views that banking on ‘traditional seats’ alone would spell trouble for GPS in the state election.
Tiong had suggested seat-swapping could be done among GPS components to ensure the coalition would nominate only the best among the list of potential candidates for the seat.