THE recent pact between Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) to work together in the coming general election will not even make it to the polls, analysts predict.

They noted the differing political philosophies of the parties, which would inevitably make it difficult for them to agree.

PSB – which prior to the 2018 general election branded itself Barisan Nasional (BN) friendly – believes the peninsula should returning all of Sarawak’s eroded rights, while PBK’s philosophy is the complete opposite: an independent Sarawak nation.

“(The MOU) will be torn up by their supporters very soon,” said James Chin, professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania.

On September 19, the two parties signed an agreement to avoid contesting against each other and thus splitting votes.

Universiti Malaya’s Assoc Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi is a little kinder with his assessment, believing the MOU will survive the through the election but not long thereafter.

The MOU raised eyebrows because it was widely expected that PSB would try to forge a deal with the more established and stronger DAP.

However, the talks fell apart because DAP refused to give up some of the urban Chinese-majority seats, such as Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Lanang, Sibu and Sarikei.

Chin said the PSB-PBK deal was “not worth the paper it’s written on” and that it will be torn up by the supporters of the two parties very soon.

Their political contradiction is not the only reason, he said.

“The fact is that the supporters of both parties believe they have enough support to win on their own so – even though the leadership think it’s logical to come together and not split the votes – most of their supporters, particularly those in PBK, disagree.”

Describing PBK’s supporters as “highly independent loose cannons”, he said most will not go along with this agreement.

Chin said he sees this MOU as more of a temporary marriage till the election is called.

“They are on their honeymoon between now and the election.”

Yet, once the election draws near, and it’s time to name the candidates and make other decisions, Chin said that’s when trouble will start.

Awang Azman said he saw the MOU more of a “forced marriage”.

“They sleep together but have different dreams.”

Awang Azman said their fundamental differences get in the way of long-term co-operation.

He said, based on the parties’ performance in the state election last December, the MOU is unlikely to pose any threat to the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition but would certainly take precious votes away from DAP.

Despite this, Awang Azman said on the whole the forced marriage is unlikely to threaten DAP in its urban seats.

“DAP is an established party and has been around for a long time,” he said, alluding to PSB and PBK’s relative youth.

PSB was formed in 2014 by expelled members of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), one of the component parties in GPS, while PBK was formed in 2013.

Awang Azman said it was also undeniable that DAP has the support that PSB and PBK would find difficult to match.

PSB president Wong Soon Koh had said he hoped in the MOU, the people of Sarawak will lend full support to the two local based parties “in order to reclaim all our rights enshrined in MA63 for the benefits of people of Sarawak”.

PBK secretary-general Priscilla Lau said the MOU came about because PSB and PBK “have heard the voters’ voices”. – September 26, 2022.