KUCHING: Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) has the opportunity to grow in Sarawak, especially among the young people and new voters looking for alternative parties.
This despite the dismissal of Zuraida Kamaruddin and 10 others last year as well as the recent resignations of party members in the Peninsular.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities deputy dean Dr Arnold Puyok said if PBM could cater to the needs of these voters and respond effectively to their demands, the party could still play a role in Sarawak.
He said Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng, who is the PBM president, would need to bring in fresh and progressive faces.
“Sng must also play a bigger role outside of Julau and be a leader acceptable by all in Sarawak,” he told New Sarawak Tribune today.
“He needs to change the perception that the support he gets in Julau is mainly due to patronage and patrimonial politics.”
Puyok opined that it would not be an easy task to project PBM as a national party in Sarawak due to the popularity of the Sarawak First sentiment promoted by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“Larry should find the right balance between pursuing national concerns and maintaining local sensitivities.”
PBM recently decided to shift its attention and resources to grow in Sarawak and project a stronger East Malaysian outlook on national policymaking.
Sng said the party had four years to plan, engage and deliver on its vision to party members, constituents and the rest of the country.
He also mooted for smaller parties and supporters of the unity government to discuss the possibility of working together as a bloc.
