KUCHING: Those leaving Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) to join Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will only affect PSB’s chances of being accepted into GPS, said political analyst University of Malaya senior lecturer Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
Awang Azman said this is because to be accepted into GPS, PSB needs about 70 per cent of support, not only from PRS but also from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
PSB was formerly known as United People’s Party (UPP), but a rebranding exercise also involved changing its name. It is a splinter of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
Awang Azman opined that a three-cornered fight is expected to take place in many seats in the next state election if there is no consensus between GPS and PSB.
He believes that GPS, PSB and PH will contest each other in the election, thus will split the votes, especially in the Iban areas.
“If this happens it will affect GPS chances to win in the Iban areas,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He said if the issue is not solved amicably, PSB is a threat to PRS and SUPP in that it will make it easier for PKR to win in the coming state election
“PKR and PH chances are generally getting better if the issue is not resolved amicably,” he added.
According to Awang Azman, in the absence of any specific anti-hopping law, politicians are guided by political moral ethics because they were elected on party logo, party money and the support of the old party members.
“In fact, cabinet posts, political secretaries, counselors and so forth are the result of original party quota,” he said.
“However, in the context of human rights and the law of freedom of party or association it is the individual’s right,” said Awang Azman.
He said so far only two or three countries have the anti-hopping law and that is also in the third world countries.
Awang Azman said the chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg as GPS chairman must ensure that a storm in a tea cup will not turn out to be a tsunami.
“If this issue is not resolved wisely, a three-cornered clash will occur between GPS, PSB and PH come the next polls. All of this will hurt the GPS and an advantage to PH, especially PKR,” Awang Azman concluded.
