KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) needs time to reorganise and strategise after the state legislative assembly (DUN) Speaker confirmed that Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How need not vacate his seat after quitting the party.
However, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) deputy Dean Dr Arnold Puyok said one should not write off PSB just yet even after it has lost another state seat following See’s resignation.
“If we look at the electoral performances of the contesting parties at the individual level in the previous election, PSB was quite popular among the Dayak and Orang Ulu,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted.
“If the previous state election was called earlier and before the imposition of the state of emergency, PSB could have won more seats.”
He said in the next election, PSB could pose a challenge to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), particularly in the Dayak and Orang Ulu areas.
“Of course, not to forget, the country’s political landscape is changing with Undi18 and the participation of young professionals in the political process.
“Naturally, they want to support alternative parties with progressive policies and leadership,” he pointed out.
PSB, led by Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, started life as the United People’s Party, a breakaway from the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component party, Sarawak United People’s Party.
It currently has one Member of Parliament (MP) in Selangau’s Baru Bian, who is also Ba Kelalan assemblyman, and another two assemblymen, namely Wong himself for Bawang Assan and Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa.
