Sarawak opposition’s role now about checks and balances: Analyst

KUCHING: The opposition still matters in Sarawak, but its role has shifted from chasing power to safeguarding democratic checks and balances.
 
Political analyst Datuk Dr Lee Kuok Tiung said the opposition’s realistic mission in the coming Sarawak election is no longer to topple the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), but to prevent a complete monopoly in the state legislature.
 
The associate professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, said the opposition landscape in Sarawak should not be viewed as belonging solely to Democratic Action Party (DAP).
 
“The Sarawak opposition is not exclusively DAP’s domain. Local Sarawak-based parties can also play the role of opposition effectively,” he said when commenting on whether the opposition can still remain relevant in a GPS-dominated political environment.
 
Lee pointed out that in the last state election, several opposition seats were initially won by candidates from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), although all later incumbents aligned themselves with GPS through cooperation with Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
 
He said urban constituencies remain the opposition especially DAP’s most practical battleground due to Sarawak’s vast geography and logistical challenges.
 
However, he stressed that the growing “Sarawak-first” sentiment and preference for local-based parties remain major advantages for GPS and its component parties.
 
GPS currently dominates the 82-seat Sarawak Legislative Assembly through its coalition members — Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu(PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and PDP.
 
Based on the last state election, PBB held 47 seats, SUPP 13, PRS 11 and PDP five, while former PSB representatives later strengthened the ruling bloc.
 
Among parties expected to challenge GPS in the coming state election are DAP, People’s Justice Party (PKR), as well as several Sarawak-based parties including Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) seeking to revive opposition momentum in the urban, semi-urban and rural areas.
 
Lee said parties from Malaya often rely on national reform narratives centred on governance and institutional issues, but local identity politics remains highly influential in Sarawak.
 
Still, he believes rising living costs could become a major election issue.
 
“The next wave of price increases expected in July will make public concerns more visible,” he said, adding that increasing production costs are likely to affect prices ranging from food and beverages to housing.
 
Speculation continues to mount that the l Sarawak polls could be called later this year, although the current State Legislative Assembly’s term only expires in early 2027.
 
Meanwhile, proposals to increase Sarawak’s state seats from 82 to 99 are still awaiting parliamentary approval.