Commenting on PKR's chances in the upcoming 12th Sarawak State Elections

I have commented to our media friends on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak which may not be able to win any seats in the upcoming 12th Sarawak state election (PRN12) and the prospects of securing a seat was in fact, very bleak. I am not giving PKR any chance in this upcoming state elections. Based on my own observation, I think they will win zero seats. I may sound arrogant but looking at the present leadership of PKR Sarawak, I think they will not even secure a single seat.

I was asked to comment on the recent statement by PKR Sarawak secretary Joshua Jabeng who had reportedly said the party would field 47 candidates for the PRN12 after negotiations with Pakatan Harapan (PH) partners namely Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Amanah Negara.

PKR Sarawak suffered a leadership crisis after their then chairman and Selangau MP, Baru Bian, together with Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin and Saratok MP Ali Biju left the party, following a political crisis dubbed as ‘Sheraton Move’ that toppled the PH federal government.

On whether Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) would pose a threat to GPS in the state election, I have commented that in Malaysia we had always practises parliamentary democracy and anyone could contest in the election. Thus, we respect PKR, PSB and all but we have been through many elections. There were always political parties that announced their intention to contest in about 40 or even all of the 82 seats but in the end, they could only win one or two seats.

PSB has two incumbent representatives who left PKR after the ‘Sheraton Move’, namely YB Baru Bian (Ba Kelalan) and YB See Chee How (Batu Lintang). I personally sees PSB as a splinter group of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), and a ‘sanctuary’ for dissenters from other political parties, including PBB, PKR and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). Like the old saying, "birds of same feather flock together". When they faced problems with their own party, they flock together (by joining PSB, but with different ideologies. One of the PSB members had persistently championed for native customary rights (NCR) land but now seemed to be involved with a party that is associating itself with big tycoons who have logging problems. As a result, I am optimistic that GPS incumbents would be able to secure a landslide victory in the state election, with a two-third or even a four-fifth majority in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).