KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) message of stability, development and unity still strongly resonates in Sarawak, but economic pressures could test support in the coming election.
Political analyst, Datuk Professor Dr Lee Kuok Tiung, said GPS has successfully built a political identity that resonates deeply with Sarawakians, particularly in an era when voters are increasingly wary of instability at the federal level.
He said the coalition’s messaging has remained effective because it is closely tied to Sarawak’s broader political aspirations and sense of autonomy.
“GPS’ emphasis on stability, development, and unity not only still resonates but is seen to be growing stronger in Sarawak’s political landscape,” he said.
He said when asked on whether GPS’ long-standing message of stability, development and unity still resonates strongly with voters in Sarawak in the coming state election.
Lee, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), said GPS has been able to distinguish itself by projecting Sarawak as politically mature, pragmatic and insulated from the turbulence that often characterises Peninsular Malaysia politics.
He noted that one of the coalition’s biggest strengths lies in how it has positioned itself nationally while remaining firmly rooted in state-based concerns.
“GPS has positioned itself as the ‘kingmaker’ in national politics and a fierce defender of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) rights. The coalition has successfully decoupled Sarawak from Peninsular volatility,” he said.
That positioning, he said, has helped reinforce public confidence in GPS as a coalition capable of safeguarding Sarawak’s interests while also ensuring continuity in governance and development planning.
For many voters, especially in the rural heartland, the appeal of political stability remains closely linked to expectations of sustained infrastructure expansion, social welfare delivery and economic opportunities.
At the same time, Lee cautioned that the coalition cannot afford to rely solely on its traditional strengths.
He said rising cost of living pressures, worsened by global uncertainties including the ongoing war in Iran, could become a more immediate concern for voters, especially among lower-income households and younger Sarawakians trying to navigate an increasingly expensive economy.
He warned that unless such concerns are addressed effectively, support for GPS could gradually weaken among the B40 and youth segments.
Still, Lee acknowledged that the Sarawak government has made considerable efforts to cushion the burden on ordinary people through a range of assistance and welfare measures.
He said initiatives such as free higher education, subsidies for B40 students and various other state-backed benefits have been well received and are appreciated by many families.
However, he stressed that policymakers should not overlook the pressure faced by the middle-income group in what he described as an “M-shaped society”.
“The middle class is not far from the B40 group and is in dire need of assistance as well,” he said.
He added that attention must also be given to the “hidden costs” of education, which continue to weigh heavily on parents despite the introduction of free undergraduate education.
“For example, university education is free for undergraduate degrees, but for foundation courses, which are a prerequisite for taking an undergraduate degree, parents still have to pay for them themselves, and that is also not cheap,” he said.
As the state election draws closer, Lee’s view suggests that GPS still enters the race with a powerful and familiar narrative that many Sarawakians continue to embrace.
But whether that support remains firmly intact may depend less on slogans and more on how convincingly the coalition responds to the everyday economic anxieties now shaping voter sentiment.
