GPS will retake urban seats amid DAP-PSB clash, say analysts
PSB president Wong Soon Koh said last week he had “no choice” but to take on Oscar Ling of DAP in Sibu.
PETALING JAYA: A bitter fight for urban seats between two opposition parties at the general election would allow the GPS ruling coalition to scoop up many of the seats, say two analysts.
They say the clash between DAP and Parti Sarawak Bersatu for these Dewan Rakyat seats will crack the door open for the Sarawak United People’s Party to worm its way to victory instead.
The SUPP is a member of Gabungan Parti Sarawak, the ruling coalition led by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB). The other members are Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute and Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi also said they expect DAP to come out second best over PSB as reflected in PSB winning more seats at state elections last December.
“We’re seeing a rise of ‘state nationalism’, of people being angry with DAP not only for its performance during its 22 months (in power in the Pakatan Harapan government), but also for it being a Malaya-controlled party.
“These are some of the things DAP cannot run away from. People are also very angry with the DAP leaders in Sarawak,” he told FMT. “But DAP will still win some seats. It will not be wiped out.”
Awang Azman said DAP had the edge over PSB and was banking on its core supporters of Chinese voters.
“The real battle will be between DAP and GPS in urban areas. DAP doesn’t need to fear PSB because support for PSB is still weak though it’s bearing the ‘local party’ label.
“But current sentiment shows that Sarawakian voters prefer GPS over PSB and DAP because the coalition is in the government.”
In December, PSB became the leading opposition party in the 82-member state assembly, after winning four seats while DAP won just two. GPS snatched 76 seats.
On Monday, PSB said it would challenge DAP for its urban seats in Sarawak, with party president Wong Soon Koh set to vie for the Sibu parliamentary seat currently held by Oscar Ling.
Wong had said there was no choice but to “fight it out” with DAP as its members’ seats were non-negotiable.
He also said PSB was working on forming a united front with other local parties, Parti Bumi Kenyalang, Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar), Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB).
PETALING JAYA: A bitter fight for urban seats between two opposition parties at the general election would allow the GPS ruling coalition to scoop up many of the seats, say two analysts.
They say the clash between DAP and Parti Sarawak Bersatu for these Dewan Rakyat seats will crack the door open for the Sarawak United People’s Party to worm its way to victory instead.
The SUPP is a member of Gabungan Parti Sarawak, the ruling coalition led by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB). The other members are Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute and Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi also said they expect DAP to come out second best over PSB as reflected in PSB winning more seats at state elections last December.
“We’re seeing a rise of ‘state nationalism’, of people being angry with DAP not only for its performance during its 22 months (in power in the Pakatan Harapan government), but also for it being a Malaya-controlled party.
“These are some of the things DAP cannot run away from. People are also very angry with the DAP leaders in Sarawak,” he told FMT. “But DAP will still win some seats. It will not be wiped out.”
Awang Azman said DAP had the edge over PSB and was banking on its core supporters of Chinese voters.
“The real battle will be between DAP and GPS in urban areas. DAP doesn’t need to fear PSB because support for PSB is still weak though it’s bearing the ‘local party’ label.
“But current sentiment shows that Sarawakian voters prefer GPS over PSB and DAP because the coalition is in the government.”
In December, PSB became the leading opposition party in the 82-member state assembly, after winning four seats while DAP won just two. GPS snatched 76 seats.
On Monday, PSB said it would challenge DAP for its urban seats in Sarawak, with party president Wong Soon Koh set to vie for the Sibu parliamentary seat currently held by Oscar Ling.
Wong had said there was no choice but to “fight it out” with DAP as its members’ seats were non-negotiable.
He also said PSB was working on forming a united front with other local parties, Parti Bumi Kenyalang, Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar), Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB).
Frankly, Sarawak and Sabah voters are their own worst enemies.
ReplyDeleteThe are permanently locked in as Fixed Deposits to the BN/ GPS ecosystem, then they go around complain that they are mistreated.
What did they expect from their unconditional support ?