‘Forming new coalition just to leave BN may not be good idea’
KUCHING: The proposal to form a new political coalition by state Barisan Nasional ( BN) parties just to disassociate themselves from BN may not be a truly good idea.
The state BN comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party ( PDP) as well as the BN-friendly United People’s Party ( UPP).
Some have treated the proposal as not noble, saying it is clear- cut disloyalty to the BN coalition which they had relied upon all these years while well-meaning Sarawakians treated it as a move to reconsolidate fellow Sarawakians under one roof following the split and division caused by the effects of the just- concluded parliamentary election.
During the May 9 general election, Malaysians voted overwhelmingly for Pakatan Harapan ( PH) to take over Putrajaya, leaving BN to ponder upon its future.
At federal level, BN is the opposition but BN Sarawak is the government in Sarawak.
Running away from the 60-year- old federal BN will not make any difference for the state BN if it does so without undergoing major change in structure and leadership, said political observer Assoc Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
He said this change in structure may also warrant the participation of other smaller or less influential organisations in the proposed state alliance, apparently referring to political parties like Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak ( Teras), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru ( PBDSB), Parti Bumi Kenyalang ( PBK), Sarawak Peace Party ( Peace) and State Reform Party (STAR).
The so-called ‘Kamek Orang Sarawak’ sentiment will not be strong enough to sustain the Sarawak alliance without change in leadership and party restructuring as well as without institutionalised reformation. Assoc Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi, political observer
Awang Azman pointed out that without inviting or participation of these parties, the current state BN components would only be viewed as wanting to save the career of their state assembly members and not propagating a new political struggle in a more holistic and sincere way.
Nevertheless, change or rebranding is necessary for the state BN’s continued struggle or at least survival in the run-up to the next state election, to be called latest by first half of 2021, he said.
Awang Azman said he believed that Sarawak- based parties would form a coalition called ‘Sarawak Alliance’, judging by current political situation and trend.
He said it would not be wise for the state BN parties to remain as elites by rejecting other smaller state- based parties if what they had in mind was indeed reconsolidation of Sarawakians or promotion of the spirit ‘Kamek Orang Sarawak’ ( We are Sarawakians).
“The so- called ‘ Kamek Orang Sarawak’ sentiment will not be strong enough to sustain the Sarawak alliance without change in leadership and party restructuring as well as without institutionalised reformation,” he claimed.
He said based on his observation it was clear that during the last parliamentary election state BN campaigners missed the ‘ feel good’ factors used to be propagated by former Chief Minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
State BN only managed to secure 19 parliamentary seats out of 31 in the May 9 polls - its worst ever performance in any election thus far.
“Now they ( politicians) cannot rely on the philosophy that the community needs the BN as if they are the natural government. But the reverse is true – the BN needs the people now. The state BN in particular now needs the voters for the sake of their continuity and survival,” he pointed out.
“Please stick to reality on the ground whenever delivering speeches. This is because voters are knowledgeable, now that useful information are at their fingertips with the advancement of technology and existence of social media,” he emphasised.
“The most important thing is for politicians to go back to basics. Do not be proud. Take care of people’s wellbeing and their economy. Voters are not impressed with those who resort to politics of public confusion, threats and intimidation tactics. They will vote you out if you do so,” he stressed.