KUCHING: Disputes on social media among aspiring Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) candidates could undermine grassroots unity and party cooperation ahead of the 13th Sarawak General Election.
Political sociologist Prof Dr Novel Lyndon of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities said while competition for candidacy is normal in any political party, allowing disagreements to spill into the public domain could create unnecessary divisions.
He said supporters might begin forming factions around their preferred candidates instead of rallying behind the party, potentially weakening trust and cooperation at the grassroots level.
“The real danger is not competition for candidacy itself, but allowing personal political ambitions to become more important than party unity,” he said.
Novel cited recent disputes involving candidacy speculation in Baleh and misleading social media claims concerning Ngemah as examples of how such controversies could create confusion.
However, he cautioned against interpreting these incidents as evidence of widespread internal division within PRS, noting that social media could amplify relatively minor disagreements and make them appear more serious than they were.
He said public disputes could also raise questions about the transparency, fairness and authority of PRS’ candidate selection mechanism, particularly if aspiring candidates or their supporters appeared to be using online platforms to pressure party leaders.
According to him, party members are more likely to accept leadership decisions when they believe the selection process was fair and their views had been considered.
“Clear communication from the leadership is important because uncertainty can encourage speculation and misunderstanding.
“Ultimately, confidence in the leadership depends not only on who is selected, but also on how the decision is made and explained,” he said.
Nevertheless, Novel stressed that grassroots members had a legitimate right to express their preferences, particularly when they believed certain candidates had served their communities well.
He said the distinction lay between healthy political competition and behaviour involving personal attacks or the circulation of unverified information.
Looking ahead to nomination day on Nov 28, he warned that unresolved disagreements could have longer-term consequences for PRS, particularly in constituencies where grassroots networks and personal relationships were crucial to electoral success.
He identified three potential risks: reduced participation by dissatisfied supporters in campaign activities, deteriorating trust between party leaders and grassroots members, and difficulties maintaining a coordinated campaign under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
In rural constituencies especially, he said, grassroots networks played an important role in connecting political parties with local communities, making cooperation among members essential during the election campaign.
Although disagreements over candidate selection did not necessarily mean members would withdraw their support, Novel said much would depend on how the leadership managed the situation and whether those involved accepted the final decisions.
“The longer internal disputes remain unresolved, the greater the risk that personal disagreements will affect party cooperation beyond the election itself,” he said.
He said PRS is facing an important test of its internal leadership and decision-making process, adding that its ability to manage competing ambitions fairly would be crucial to maintaining party unity.
“In politics, competition for positions is normal, but lasting party unity depends on members having confidence in the fairness of the process and respect for one another, even when they disagree,” he said.
