Sarawak “Down with the Enemy”

Word has it from the corridors of power that the Federal Pakatan Harapan (PH) will go all out to dethrone the present Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Ruling Government at the next 12th State elections due in 2021. 

Is it real? Can they do it? 

After only winning 10 seats at the 11th State elections in 2016 they are now focusing on overturning the 72 seats held by GPS. Of course, they have taken over the Federal Government in May 2018 and this has sent shivers down the spines of many associated with the present ruling GPS government.

Their social and political status are at risk and they know any wrong move on their part will mean “dark ages with little flickering light plus pressure of losing the elitist mentality and lifestyle”

Its a thought no doubt and its open to interpretations and after much sought political evaluation the ‘threat” is real but measures and strategies are already in place by GPS.

The ground movements and sentiments are very much back to normalcy as far as GPS is concerned. The PH jigsaw for Sarawak though completed but the coming of Bersatu in November 2018 has open up more options and given the GPS government more firepower to counter the incoming threat it poses. 

Literally what Mahathir said”The Federal Government is still helping Sarawak a lot but the development funds have not been fairly distributed.” The PM has chosen his words very carefully but his words ‘is still helping Sarawak” does not augur well with many Sarawak civil societies plus well read educated Sarawakians.

What does he mean by that?

One does not want to be taken out of context but there is slight hint of cynicism with intonation of sarcasm on the part of the PM as Chairman to a political party in Bersatu.

He was also quoted in NST “He said the size of the state caused some elected representatives to neglect their constituents as they were unable to visit them often.“

Fair enough with the statement. However, having said that the Sarawak elected representatives of GPS will not take it laying down. They are not reporting to him but to Sarawak Chief Minister and the hearsay,accusations,false rumours are made up by those who have “VESTED INTEREST”for their selfish political needs.

In all honest truth, they just want to be candidates in the next State elections representing PH or Bersatu. The GPS assemblyman are ready to face the might of the Federal Machinery and those who have serviced and look after their constituency will not have too much to worry.

Most of them if not all of them have already identified their areas of weaknesses and are positively working to overturn it.

The GPS assemblyman are already fined tuned to the pressures from the constituents,the mind games been played between Federal and State and also the cyber savvy games being used by the social media exponents. (Well versed in Sun Tzu Art of War hehehe but not INVOKES methods of strategy which greatly benefits GE13)

The Sarawak Political terrain is different as compared to Malaya as here we have at least 80 different ethnicity and in Malaya it is mainly made up of Malays,Chinese, Indians and a sprinkle of Orang Asli.

Invoke might have already started their homework but could they move from one area to another within weeks or days. Absolutely not, as the lack of infrastructure and difficult terrain plus Sarawak vast country does not permit that.

Invoke though have 2 years but the GPS assemblyman already have the information at their palms of their hands.

The Sarawak sentiments are at this present moment very entrenched with the Sarawak State GPS Government. The saying,”Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know” plays a very huge significance in the mindset of Sarawakians.

One can stir up the cooking pot but the opposition local leaders in PH knows that they face a ‘herculean task” ahead.They cannot fall back on GST,tolls,high oil prices and others which ‘worked for them” They will manifest and evolve something out we are pretty sure of that.

Can GPS lie on their laurels?

No, even though one can argue that the Sarawak sentiments are very much with the local based parties within GPS. It goes back to the drawing board and the winnable seats. Those GPS assemblyman who have under performed will face the wrath of the people and bear the consequences and these seats will be capitalised by PH.

Azmin Ali presently the PKR Deputy President and Minister in Mahathirs cabinet  has already hinted long ago in a speech at Grand Continental Hotel Kuching Sarawak,”infighting will ruin all chances of winning and its been proven in GE14.”

Everyone knows that elections are won by the right perceptions ,strategies plus other relevant factors which are key elements but it is not our bread and butter to reveal it to the political stakeholders.

They have their teams in place in their 82 Sarawak seats and they will need to walk the extra mile as the upcoming political battle will not be a”WALK IN THE PARK “

Its very much an election between Sarawak State Government local based parties versus the Federal backed Opposition Parties.

Down with the enemy is about the SWING IN POLITICAL POWERS and not about SECESSION and getting back our rights and maintaining for Sarawak under Malaysian Agreement 1963.

Sarawak also wants to be independent in its financial acumen besides having more autonomy over health and education matters. Both hands needs to clap and not slander each other though from both different political platforms.

PM Mahathir had even rightfully said that Sarawak and Sabah were not asking for independence,but were seeking greater autonomy. This has been the line of order taken by the late CM Tok Nan and the present CM Abang Jo

Taking a segment in the page from an author who wrote in his book 1995 he pointed out,”Federalism is perceived as the mode of political organisation that unites several policies within an overarching political system, and is done in such a way as to allow each to maintain its own fundamental integrity.

The Federal system, as in the case of Malaysia, does this by requiring that basic policies be made and implemented through negotiation in some form, so that all members will have a share in making and executing decisions.

The term “federalism” therefore denotes the unification of separate states into a federal policy and also the permanent diffusion of authority and power within a nation among several state governments.”

The GPS Government and its current assemblyman knows that they have to get it right and spot on or the PH will spin everything to their advantage to woo the voters to their side.

Those who enter politics knows that this profession is not one of glamour or of fame and the words below are anything more than a guideline

Aristotle –
“Political society exists for the sake of noble actions, and not of mere companionship. Hence, they who contribute most to such a society have a greater share in it than those who have the same or a greater freedom or nobility of birth but are inferior to them in political virtue; or than those who exceed them in wealth but are surpassed by them in virtue”.

The enemy is within sight and we can take them out but the greatest ingredient  to stay relevant and continuity in which a former CM said is the process of leadership development.

The words,”we’ve to learn and keep learning how to be humble to serve our people,especially when we continue to face changes and challenges with the tide of time.“

The threat is real with the new realignments of political changes in the Federal level but above all Sarawakians will want the preservation of the rights of Sarawak.

The people of Sarawak will justify their voices with a vote for religious freedom,free from racial abuses, free from security threats and above all living harmoniously and peacefully together by leaders that knows their needs and wants.

The defining word is already leaked out……..