“Lies sound like facts to those who’ve been conditioned to mis-recognise the truth.”
– DaShanne Stokes, author and public speaker
ONCE again, we are under attack, I mean Sarawak! Not from within, but from the usual suspects beyond the South China Sea who simply cannot stomach our rising stature in the Malaysian federation.
A recent article in a national news portal provocatively headlined ‘Silent rivalry brewing in Sarawak over premiership’ attempts to sow discord by claiming a leadership tussle is developing between Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
It is a piece riddled with conjecture, unattributed whispers, and recycled motif aimed at undermining the solid leadership enjoyed by Sarawak under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Let us be clear from the outset: no such power struggle exists. What we are witnessing is a deliberate and calculated attempt to fabricate cracks within Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the linchpin of GPS, and cast doubt on our political stability at a time when Sarawak is being held up as a model of good governance and visionary leadership.
This is not the first time Sarawak and its leaders have come under siege by quarters in Malaya, especially in the digital domain, where mercenary writers and dubious portals, driven by vested interests, peddle innuendo as journalism.
One such earlier attempt was made by a writer some months ago, who questioned the efficacy of Abang Johari’s leadership in another online publication. His piece, like the current one, lacked context and credibility.
Why this obsession with Sarawak’s affairs from across the sea? Envy, yes envy! Sarawak’s economic growth, institutional reforms, and political unity stand in stark contrast to the chaos and backstabbing that have become the norm in Malaya.
It seems the more Sarawak succeeds, the more certain Malayan quarters, perhaps egged on by disgruntled voices within our own backyard, scramble to construct a narrative of turmoil. If the centre cannot hold in Malaya, they seem to say, then surely Sarawak cannot be doing well either.
Abang Johari could not have responded more aptly when he said, “Recently, there were attempts to stir conflict within PBB, suggesting that Awang Tengah and I are at odds. These things happen when people are jealous of our success… But don’t worry! As long as I’m in GPS, we will not be divided.”
Indeed, the Premier’s calm yet firm dismissal of this baseless talk captures what many Sarawakians already know. The notion of rivalry is not only false; it is preposterous.
What these detractors fail to understand is that PBB is not some rickety coalition of convenience. It is a party built on hierarchy, mutual respect, and deep-rooted discipline. As PBB’s information chief Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah rightly stressed, Sarawak does not engage in the kind of power games that plague Malaya.
“There is always respect for the leader. In Sarawak, we let the top leader be in charge until such time when he feels it is time to step down,” he said.
Therein lies the difference. While Malayan politics is replete with politicians plotting behind closed doors and issuing veiled threats through social media proxies, PBB and GPS operate with a different character. Leadership transition is not driven by ambition but by responsibility. It is not coerced but consented to.
One of the biggest reasons for Sarawak’s meteoric rise in recent years is its remarkable political stability. Since taking over the reins as Premier in 2017, Abang Johari has led with a quiet force of personality and vision, elevating Sarawak’s place in the federation.
From pulling PBB and other local parties out of Barisan Nasional in 2018 to forming the GPS coalition, he demonstrated rare political courage and foresight. That singular move restored Sarawak’s autonomy in decision-making and made it a kingmaker at the federal level. This is an achievement no other state has matched.
With GPS’ influence in federal politics growing, especially with Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (now Tun Pehin Sri, and Sarawak Governor) as the de facto Law Minister whose impeccable knowledge and expertise of constitutional law is second to none, Sarawak pushed through long-overdue constitutional amendments in 2021 to its favour, redefining the term ‘federation’ and restoring the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in Malaysia, and not merely states among thirteen.
These were not hollow symbolic victories. They triggered a series of concrete changes. The Sarawak Chief Minister became ‘Premier’; the word ‘state’ was dropped from government institutions and departments; and, perhaps most significantly, GPS secured Sarawakian Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as deputy prime minister.
All of this was made possible through Abang Johari’s leadership, his ability to command unity within GPS, and his deep understanding of Sarawak’s rightful place under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Under his stewardship, Sarawak has embarked on an ambitious roadmap to future-proof the state’s economy. From pioneering the digital economy and embracing renewable energy to launching a sovereign wealth fund and a state-owned commercial bank, his administration has laid the groundwork for generational transformation.
His embrace of the hydrogen economy, solar and biomass energy, and semiconductors speaks of his long-term vision for Sarawak; not just as an energy exporter, but as a knowledge-driven economy that prioritises sustainability and innovation.
Even the education sector has not been left behind. Sarawak has recognised the UEC certificate, offered free tertiary education beginning next year, and bolstered support for minorities through initiatives like the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor). These are proofs of inclusive governance that Malaysians elsewhere can only dream of, or pray for.
In 2023, Sarawak attracted a staggering RM22.8 billion in approved investments. The World Bank has classified it as a high-income region. Young Sarawakians are returning home, drawn by a sense of purpose and opportunity. And GPS, under Abang Johari’s leadership, holds an unprecedented 80 out of 82 state assembly seats.
And yet, some would have us believe there’s a crisis of leadership brewing? Think again.
It is no coincidence that these attempts to destabilise Sarawak’s leadership come through unverifiable reports, misleading articles, and shadowy ‘sources’. This is not journalism. This is propaganda dressed up in pseudo-analysis.
These writers, often detached from Sarawak’s realities, operate with one aim: to shake the confidence Sarawakians have in their leaders. But they underestimate the political maturity of our people.
As one local commentator aptly puts it, “Our people understand the difference between principled leadership and malicious distraction, between legitimate reporting and clickbait propaganda.”
Indeed, Sarawakians are not easily swayed by narratives manufactured in air-conditioned offices in Malaya. We know what good governance looks like, and we know who delivers it.
The GPS government’s overwhelming mandate reflects not just the popularity of its leaders but the trust in their vision. At no point since 2017 has there been any public indication, nor private murmurs among party ranks, that Awang Tengah seeks to displace Abang Johari. Both leaders have worked in tandem, with mutual respect and clarity of roles.
Even during candidate selection for elections, as Abdul Karim noted, PBB has always shown a culture of discipline and loyalty rarely seen elsewhere. Those asked to make way for fresh faces have done so with dignity, not defiance. This is the Sarawak way; one of honour, not ambition.
Let us put it plainly: Sarawak’s political path will not be dictated by whisper campaigns, nor by opinion pieces drafted with ulterior motives. It will be shaped by Sarawakians, who have shown time and again that they value stability over speculation, results over rhetoric.
There will come a day when leadership transition becomes necessary, as it must in every healthy democracy. But that decision will be made through internal consensus, not external coercion. And certainly not from certain quarters in Malaya.
Until then, Abang Johari’s leadership remains secure. And deservedly so. As long as he continues to prioritise Sarawak’s economic development, protect its rights under MA63, and uphold the unity within GPS, there is no reason why he should not continue to lead Sarawak into the future.
The malicious attempts to break Sarawak’s political backbone will fail, because they are built on lies, envy and wishful thinking. And as history has shown us, lies can never outlast leadership grounded in service, vision and integrity.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at rajlira@gmail.com.
