KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) must be prepared to face new political challenges, particularly the shifting voting patterns of young voters brought about by the automatic voter registration system.
Premier and Deputy President Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this is important as the number of voters in Sarawak continues to rise.
“Based on statistics, a large percentage of voters in Sarawak consists of young people, accounting for 48.2 per cent of the total electorate.
“This includes 129,612 voters aged 18 to 20, while 839,910 voters are between 21 and 39.
“Therefore, PBB’s youth and young leaders must take note of these figures. The voices and votes of young people are crucial to the party’s success and continuity,” he said.
He said this during the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women and Youth Wings 16th Triennial General Meetings at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today (Feb 14).
“In 2022, the number of voters increased by 59.4 per cent, bringing the total electorate to 1,945,074. By 2024, this number had risen to 2,008,347.
“Of this total, 50.17 per cent, or 1,007,514 voters, are male, while 49.83 per cent, or 1,000,833 voters, are female,” he said.
Uggah further urged PBB’s (1828) Youth Wing, Youth, and Women’s Wing to actively engage with the people, as they are the voices that will shape Sarawak’s future.
“However, we must remember that PBB’s struggle is not merely about winning elections. Our core commitment is to improve the well-being of the people.
“We must be on the ground more frequently to listen to the people’s concerns and organize more programs so that they feel the party’s presence and care.
“Additionally, we must adopt an inclusive approach in assisting the people, regardless of their background,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of recruiting new members to ensure continued support for PBB and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) across all branches.
Uggah also reaffirmed PBB’s stronghold as the most dominant political party in Sarawak, holding 47 out of 82 state assembly seats, while GPS holds 80 out of 82 seats.
“At the federal level, PBB’s influence continues to strengthen, with key party leaders holding cabinet positions, including Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi as Works Minister, and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri as Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development.
“Therefore, we bear a great responsibility to ensure that this party remains strong, respected, and continues to be the backbone of GPS in defending Sarawak’s rights and progress,” he said.
He also reminded PBB members to remain vigilant against challenges that could disrupt party unity, as history has shown that many political parties have reached the peak of their strength, only to crumble and lose influence due to internal disputes.
