THE fear of losing out economically and loss of political patronage afforded by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is behind Sarawak Malays’ and Melanau’s rejection of peninsula-based parties, said analysts.

They are affirming a recent finding that Malays and Melanau in the state fear having a Pakatan Harapan state government after the 2021 Sarawak elections.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) senior fellow Faisal S. Hazis and social scientist at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Jeniri Amair said the Malays, Melanau and other smaller Muslim ethnic groups, like the Kedayans and Jatti Meirek, have expressed the same fears as far back as the 2006 state elections when DAP made major inroads into Sarawak.

They were referring to a survey by pollster Ilham Centre and think-tank Penang Institute, which point to Sarawak respondents’ fear of the PH coalition coming into power in the state.

PH took over federal power in the May 9 general election but remained an opposition in Sarawak.

Results of the survey released on December 8 showed that Sarawak Malay and Melanau respondents felt their special position would be affected if PH took over.

“It might be a focused study group survey involving only a few people, but the findings nonetheless reflected the general situation on the ground,” said Faisal, to which Jeniri concurred.

Faisal blamed indoctrination by the powerful PBB over the years and the result of the May 9 elections for stoking the fear.

PBB, he said, has for years drummed into the Malay and Melanau rural voters that peninsula-based parties cannot protect their interests like state-based ones.

He cited PBB’s campaign of “undi orang kita” (vote for our own people) as a key example and which is now deeply ingrained in the minds of its traditional support base.

“They have been drummed with that because they are numerically smaller and, therefore, a minority yet holding the reins of power. They only need to stay together to remain strong but under a party, like PBB that could serve their interests.”

In the 2006 state elections, DAP made considerable gains, winning five seats to add to the one breakthrough seat it made in the 2001 elections.

Faisal said when DAP won another six seats in the 2011 polls, alarm bells began ringing among the state’s Malays, other Muslims.

Even when DAP suffered unexpected reversal of fortune in the 2016 elections when it lost five seats, it did not soothe the jangled nerves, he said.

“Talks of a Chinese tsunami after the 2016 elections, when DAP continued to strengthen its grip on populous urban centres like Kuching still rankled the Malays.”

Faisal said when no Malays in Sarawak DAP, PKR or Amanah won a seat in the 14th general election in the state, it just played into PBB’s narrative that PH is not in a position to look after their interests.

“PKR, being seen as a Dayak-centric party in Sarawak, advanced those fear.”

The Malays and Melanau are like the Umno Malays in the peninsula who are concerned with their economic well-being, he said.

“Political patronage is still uppermost in their mind. Once you lose your political patronage, you lose power.”

Jeniri was blunter.

“Sarawak Malays simply do not trust peninsula-based parties and more importantly, do not believe peninsula Malay leaders could protect their interests like those in PBB.

“That’s a fact. To the Malays and Melanau, PBB has always taken care of them.

“A change has become some kind of fear factor for them.”

Like Faisal, Jeniri said the absence of a Malay MP from Sarawak in the opposition after the last general election just stoked those fears.

Even lumped with the Melanau, the Malays in Sarawak make up only 26% of the state’s population. – January 11, 2019.