KUCHING: The Mambong state constituency is expected to witness a keen contest in the coming Sarawak state election, with ground assessments indicating that both Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) have begun mobilising their machinery in the semi-rural seat.
The constituency, formerly known as Bengoh before it was renamed under the 2015 redelineation exercise by the Election Commission, has been under the control of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) since its creation as Mambong.
Incumbent Datuk Dr Jerip Susil first won the seat in 2016 under Barisan Nasional (BN) before defending it again in the 2021 state election under the GPS banner.
In the last election, he secured a comfortable majority in a multi-cornered fight, reinforcing GPS’ strong foothold in the area.
Mambong is regarded as a predominantly Bidayuh-majority constituency, with a mix of rural and semi-urban voters.
GPS’ development-oriented approach and close ties with the state administration have traditionally given the coalition an advantage.
Statewide, GPS, the state coalition formed in 2018 from former Barisan Nasional components Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), holds a dominant position in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly following its landslide victory in the 2021 election.
In the 2021 election, GPS won 76 of 82 seats, earning a super-majority in the State Legislative Assembly and effectively consolidating its control.
However, political observers note that the situation on the ground this time appears more dynamic than in other seats as speculation is rife that the state election could be held after June this year.
Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak, a Dayak-based party seeking to reassert its influence, has reportedly intensified its engagement with grassroots communities in the constituency.
Although PBDS has yet to contest in Mambong in previous outings, the party is believed to be banking on localised issues and Dayak sentiment to mount a stronger challenge.
At the same time, Parti Keadilan Rakyat is also said to be actively moving on the ground.
PKR previously contested in the area when it was still known as Bengoh but failed to wrest the seat from the then BN candidate.
Despite not making significant inroads in past elections, PKR leaders have expressed confidence that changing political dynamics and closer cooperation with allies could improve their prospects.
With both PBDS and PKR stepping up early preparations, Mambong is shaping up to be one of the constituencies to watch in the coming state election.
While GPS remains the favourite on paper, a multi-cornered contest could test the coalition’s margin and make the race more competitive than before.
Historically, the area has seen contests from multiple parties, though GPS (and its predecessor BN dominance has been consistent in recent cycles.
