SIBU: The Progressive Democratic Party's (PDP) collaboration with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) may not seem like a major benefit to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) but it could be a sign something bigger is brewing, says a political scientist.
Firstly, said Universiti Putra Malaysia's Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan, the state ruling coalition GPS already had a more than two-thirds majority in the legislative assembly and "adding four seats from PSB does not add (to the) political strength already commanded by GPS."
However, he said when contacted on Friday (July 14), very little moved in Sarawak "without the green light from Abang Jo (Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg)."
"Even his silence can be seen as a 'dimmer' green light (but green) nonetheless.
"I... think something bigger is brewing because no leaders in Sarawak would dare do anything if Abang Jo is opposed to the idea," he said.
He also suggested that the move by the once-Opposition PSB could be an attempt to do whatever it could to keep its elected representatives in place.
"PSB is anticipating bad weather ahead. It failed to make the major haul that it expected (in the December 2021 state election) riding on anti-government sentiment and (the volatility) in national politics at the time," he said.
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Dr Jawan added that the next state election could see Opposition parties decimated as "there are no more issues that they... can muster against a very stable GPS that is currently riding high."
He said Abang Johari and his Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) had achieved what previous state leaders could not, which was to secure the coveted post of Deputy Prime Minister for the party.
On Thursday (July 13) PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said his party had signed a memorandum of Understanding with PSB to work together.
The agreement, he said, was another step towards ensuring political stability in the state and country.
PDP is part of GPS, which rules the state government with 76 out of 82 seats, which it has maintained until now. In 2021, PSB won four seats but one if its assemblyman left the party in 2022.
Pakatan Harapan won two in 2021, through DAP. However, Pakatan and GPS are now partners in the national unity government.
Dr Jawan noted, however, that the PDP-PSB collaboration may not augur well for the country's political landscape.
"This is the danger in the political mindset of Sarawakians and Malaysians.
"They go strongly into an election because they say they stand for something, they want to hold the ruling party accountable, to provide checks and balances, to be a voice for the marginalised.
"But after a while being in the Opposition, they may look at the glamour of holding positions and yearn for it.
"That's when they say they want to join or collaborate with the ruling party for the sake of the people," he noted.
He said this meant they got elected on a certain platform but eventually switched to a stand that they once opposed.
Separately, PBB vice president Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he hoped to see positive results from the PDP-PSB collaboration.
"Let the supreme council of GPS as well as the Premier come out with an official statement on our stand.
"Personally, I feel anything that unites Sarawakians is good. In addition, the people in PSB used to be in the government, even full ministers. I don't see any problem (with the collaboration)," he said.
