KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) is expected to retain its dominance in Bidayuh-majority seats, although a political analyst says younger, more discerning voters are making support increasingly performance-based rather than unconditional.
Political sociology professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Professor Dr Novel Lyndon, said GPS’ strength in Bidayuh heartlands has developed into what can be regarded as a deeply institutionalised political order, built over decades through stable leadership, grassroots networks and sustained development.
Rather than being based solely on party loyalty, he argued, the coalition’s dominance has been reinforced by public confidence that effective political representation is closely linked to access to government resources and development opportunities.
“From a political sociology perspective, GPS’ dominance has evolved beyond electoral success into a relatively institutionalised political order,” he said.
According to Novel, this combination of historical trust, organisational strength and development-oriented governance has enabled GPS to maintain remarkable electoral resilience across successive state elections.
However, he cautioned against assuming that the political landscape will remain unchanged indefinitely.
Political sociology, he noted, shows that no dominant political structure is permanent, particularly as societies undergo demographic, economic and technological transformation.
The most significant change, he said, is emerging from a new generation of Bidayuh voters whose political outlook differs considerably from that of their parents.
Unlike previous generations, younger voters are immersed in digital platforms, exposed to a wider range of political viewpoints and increasingly assess political parties based on governance quality, economic prospects, transparency and policy effectiveness.
Novel stressed that this shift should not be interpreted as an outright rejection of GPS.
Instead, it suggests that electoral support is becoming increasingly conditional, with voters expecting tangible results rather than relying solely on historical affiliations.
“The support base is becoming more performance-oriented,” he observed.
Even so, he believes expectations of a dramatic electoral swing should be tempered.
Sarawak’s political culture, he said, has traditionally valued stability, moderation and pragmatic governance over confrontational politics.
Many Bidayuh voters continue to prioritise leaders capable of delivering development, safeguarding political stability and defending Sarawak’s interests on key issues such as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), federal-state relations and greater regional autonomy.
As a result, generational change is more likely to reshape the character of political competition than fundamentally alter the state’s electoral map.
Novel described the coming election as less of a referendum on whether GPS remains dominant and more of a test of whether the ruling coalition can successfully adapt to the expectations of an increasingly informed electorate.
Its continued success, he suggested, will depend not only on maintaining development momentum but also on responding to demands for greater accountability, policy innovation and effective governance.
At the same time, he said opposition parties face an equally significant challenge.
To become genuinely competitive in Bidayuh-majority constituencies, they must move beyond criticism of the government and instead demonstrate credible local leadership, maintain sustained grassroots engagement and present realistic policy alternatives that address the aspirations of Bidayuh communities.
Ultimately, Novel said, the future of Bidayuh politics will be shaped neither by ethnicity nor party loyalty alone, but by the interaction between entrenched political structures and the gradual rise of a younger generation seeking performance, accountability and meaningful representation.
That evolving balance, he said, will be one of the defining political dynamics to watch in Sarawak’s forthcoming state election.
