GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) could get shaken in the next state polls by new, young voters following a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age, said analysts, but it may not be enough to unseat the coalition.

This scenario is possible if the amendment lowering the voting age to 18 from 21 is gazetted for implementation by the time the state elections are held, which must be in 2021 at the latest.

Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Awang Pawi said though GPS will likely take a hit, it will remain the ruling Sarawak pact. Currently, it holds 72 of the state assembly’s 82 seats.

He said GPS has traction among the “majority of young voters”, especially in Malay-Muslim and non-Muslim Bumiputera areas, where Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is strong.

PBB, Sarawak’s largest party, has 46 state seats.

About 30% of new, young voters will not vote for the party in the seats it holds, said Awang Azman, adding that these seats are likely to be PBB’s Bidayuh constituencies and some Iban areas.

He said other GPS components, too, may be impacted by a higher percentage of young voters choosing not to support them.

This will be about 40% in 11 seats held by Parti Rakyat Sarawak and four seats belonging to the Progressive Democratic Party, he said.

In Chinese-majority urban areas, where the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has usually struggled, Awang Azman said he expects 70% of new, young voters to reject GPS.

The probability of reduced support for GPS comes after SUPP made gains in the last state polls in 2016, winning seven seats from two previously.

Kuching PKR division chief Simon Siah previously said the amendment to lower the voting age, when enforced, could impact GPS.

Siah, who is also state PKR Youth election director, said new, young Sarawak voters, estimated to number 138,000, could shape the outcome of the next state elections.

Awang Azman, however, does not believe these voters will decisively shape the polls’ outcome, saying many are still influenced by their elders.

“It would still be based on the politics of ethno-nationalism in Sarawak. This pattern favours GPS.”

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Jeniri Amir said it should not be assumed this segment will back Pakatan Harapan.

He said there is nothing concrete to suggest that those aged between 18 and 20 are definitely PH or GPS supporters.

The assumption in previous elections was that youth would vote for the then opposition PH, he said, but the majority of young voters in rural areas had chosen Barisan Nasional.

However, he said, the voting pattern could change by the time the next Sarawak polls are held.

The political analyst added that new, young voters in the state may lack interest in voting due to a “low level of political literacy” among them.

If parties want to secure youth support, they must provide “political education” to the group, he said.

SUPP Youth leader Milton Foo said parties must not take such support for granted.

He said they should pay particular attention to youth’s grouses on education and employment.

“These are the segment’s key concerns, whether in urban or rural areas. The younger generation wants better job opportunities, better pay, good education, fairness and justice.” – July 29, 2019.