Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.
― Ernest Benn, British publisher and writer
Will Pakatan Harapan (PH) stay out of the upcoming Jepak by-election? That is the question on the minds of political observers in Sarawak of late.
Following the Election Commission’s (EC) meeting and press conference on the Jepak vacancy, the by-election will have its polling day on Nov 4.
The commission also set Oct 21 as nomination day and Oct 31 for early voting for the by-election in Jepak, which is one of the four state seats under the Bintulu parliamentary constituency.
The Jepak seat, vacated due to the sudden passing of former Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip is seen as a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) stronghold. PBB is a lynchpin of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Talib occupied the seat since the constituency was formed in 1996. Jepak is one of the 82 state constituencies in Sarawak and has 22,804 eligible voters.
In the past, the seat was contested by national parties such as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) along with several local based parties.
In the last state election in Jepak, PBB faced competition from candidates from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and an independent.
Presently, for Pakatan Harapan (PH), Jepak is traditionally a seat PKR had contested in past elections. However due to the cooperation between GPS and PKR – the lynchpin of PH in the federal government, the latter opted to sit out of the by-election.
PKR Sarawak deputy chairman Abun Sui Anyit said the Sarawak chapter of the party unanimously agreed to not field a candidate.
He was quoted as saying: “PKR and GPS are partners in the unity government in Putrajaya. The unity government is still very young, so we cannot have a situation where we rock the boat.”
However, PH component DAP is singing a different tune, saying that PKR should reconsider its decision to sit out the by-election.
Jepak DAP chief Tonny Ung said there is no unity government in Sarawak and that the state government is solely a GPS administration.
“We should not let Sarawak be governed absolutely by a single party, namely GPS. Political instability is not an issue in Sarawak, it’s the lack of check and balance. Without strong checks and balances, a government can become corrupt and arrogant,” he said in a statement.
What was probably viewed by GPS leaders as being a gesture of goodwill by PKR to maintain harmony in the federal government was unceremoniously undone by Jepak DAP.
Not only did they urge their coalition partner to train their guns at GPS but in doing so, alienated the call for political ceasefire by their party leaders.
For PKR, the show of goodwill was in appreciation of GPS’ support of their candidates in the recent state election in six states as well as their backing for PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
Their decision to forgo the by-election was also practical, given the fact that the seat is a PBB stronghold and chances of other parties winning the seat is relatively slim.
Not to mention that even if the seat is won by PH, it won’t contribute towards any meaningful benefit since GPS already commands a supermajority in the state assembly, winning 76 out of 82 seats in the last state election. It is simply not worth it.
GPS is much needed ally in the federal government and an influential one at that – being able to persuade other Borneo bloc parties in deciding their future.
We have seen instances where parties who are partners in the same government going opposite each other in elections leading to their eventual separation with the campaign only harnessing feelings of animosity. Take Umno and Bersatu in the Melaka state election of 2021.
In the end, I would say if DAP wants go against the current and field their own candidate in Jepak, go ahead. It is a democratic country after all.
But gestures go a long way in politics. There are no absolutes, no certainty, but only word kept by good men. There are no permanent enemies in politics. Similarly, there are no permanent friends.
I expect Jepak DAP to be at the receiving end of a ‘hairdryer’ treatment from their party bosses in Kuala Lumpur and therefore ‘reconsider’ their statement.
This was nothing more than a ploy for attention and pacification.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
