THE chances of Sarawak getting Putrajaya to comply fully with the terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and reinstate eroded rights are greater now than at any other time, said analysts.

This is because the Perikatan Nasional government of Muhyiddin Yassin is standing at the edge of the precipice with Gabungan Parti Sarawak – whose 18 MPs tilted the balance of power in last week’s scramble to become prime minister.

“Now it’s time for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to live up to the promises they have been agreed on to keep GPS’ support,” Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) political scientist Jayum Jawan told The Malaysian Insight

“It definitely falls on Muhiyiddin now to please GPS and Sarawak.

“His position as prime minister is precarious and he needs GPS to show he has the majority support.”

The crunch time for the show of support, Jayum said, will come when parliament resumes on May 18 and when Muhyiddin will have to show he has the numbers.

The Sarawak-born analyst said some of the grouses, particularly those related to the MA63, might not be given overnight.

However, he believes as long as Sarawak sees commitment in this, “GPS will stay with him (Muhyiddin)”.

On the other hand, Jayum said, the Sarawak coalition of four parties – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) the lead party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party )PDP) – too, have to be mindful of their positions.

“GPS is facing a state election and they would want a show of good faith from Muhyiddin to tell Sarawakians that GPS is good to safeguard the state’s interests.”

Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya agreed and said how far Muhyiddin is willing to concede will determine the fate of his administration.

Azman said whether Muhyiddin will be the shortest prime minister in the country’s history depends on if he could convince GPS leaders he is as good as his word, how much is he willing to concede and if the concessions would have an impact on GPS retaining power in the 2021 elections.

“I am dead certain all the political blocs tried to court GPS for support during the political crisis.

“I believe Sarawak sought concessions from all in return for the support. I’m sure the state’s grouses on oil royalties, oil exploration, eroded state rights and full compliance of the MA63 were laid on the table in the bargaining with all the parties,” he said.

Azman said it’s certain each of the political blocs headed by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin offered attractive packages for political or statutory declaration support.

In the case of Muhyiddin, Azman said he could even go as far as promising Bersatu would not field any candidate in the state elections. PAS, he added, could do likewise.

PAS and Bersatu, which have branches in Sarawak, are members of the PN coalition.

Azman said in any case, Bersatu and PAS, if they do field candidates, would not offer much of a threat to GPS.

The threat will still come from DAP and PKR.

Last week, Santubong MP Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar disclosed that Dr Mahathir, whom GPS initially supported, agreed to the coalition’s demands in return for support.

When Dr Mahathir resigned as prime minister and as chairman in Bersatu, GPS switched its support to Muhyiddin who offered himself as alternative to Anwar.

GPS refused to back Anwar because of his association with DAP, which GPS declared it’ll not work with.

On top of that, all the promises Pakatan Harapan made in the 2018 general election – 15% increase in oil royalty from 5% to 20%, return of autonomy on healthcare and education, revoking allocations in the 2018 national budget to development projects in Sarawak – were never fulfilled.

Petronas’ refusal to pay the state sales tax on petroleum products angered Sarawakians even further.

They see the national oil company’s action to challenge the payment of the state sales tax (SST) as the handiwork of Dr Mahathir who chairs Petronas’ board of directors. – March 6, 2020.