KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is in a stronger political position today than it was during the 2021 state election, according to political analyst Datuk Dr Lee Kuok Tiung.
He said this is largely due to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s leadership and his focus on strengthening Sarawak’s economic sovereignty.
Lee, an associate professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, said the 2021 election was Abang Johari’s first time to lead GPS into a state election after succeeding the late former chief minister Pehin Sri Tan Sri Adenan Satem in January 2017.
He recalled that many political observers at the time questioned whether Abang Johari could fill Adenan’s shoes, with concerns that although GPS would retain power, it might lose seats.
“Everybody then talked about the ‘kasut besar’ left by Tok Nan. There were doubts over whether Abang Johari could live up to his predecessor’s popularity,” Lee said.
However, he said Abang Johari proved the sceptics wrong by leading GPS to an even stronger electoral performance.
Rather than attempting to emulate Adenan’s leadership style, Lee said Abang Johari forged his own political identity by prioritising economic transformation and greater state autonomy.
“He did not try to copy Tok Nan’s personality. Instead, he focused on economic sovereignty,” he said.
Lee pointed to several major initiatives introduced under Abang Johari’s administration, including the implementation of the State Sales Tax (SST) on petroleum products, the establishment of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS), and the promotion of the digital economy and green energy.
He also noted that Abang Johari oversaw a major political shift following the 2018 general election when Sarawak’s former Barisan Nasional component parties left the coalition to establish the independent regional alliance, GPS.
Assessing GPS’ current political standing, Lee said Abang Johari’s firm stance in asserting Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and pushing for greater state autonomy has further strengthened the coalition’s position.
