By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 6: This could be the least stressful election for Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah if he is renominated to stand in Asajaya, as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has a strong report card, with achievements across various sectors, to present to voters.
Abdul Karim, who is GPS and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief, said the coalition had much to show for its performance under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg since taking over the Sarawak government in 2017.
He said the coalition’s achievements, ranging from infrastructure development and economic growth to greater control over Sarawak’s resources and welfare initiatives, had given it a strong foundation ahead of the coming Sarawak election.
“I have been in politics for quite a while, and I don’t mind sharing this. If I am renominated, probably this might be one election where I feel the least stressed, partly because what we have put on the table is too good,” he said during a press conference at his office here today, following the Election Commission’s (EC) announcement of the key dates for the Sarawak Election.
Abdul Karim said voters would ultimately assess candidates based on their track records, the parties they represented and the benefits they could bring to the people.
“I am not saying that they must vote for GPS, but if they assess the candidates based on their own judgment of who can deliver a better performance, I will say the existing government has done a very good job,” he said.
Among the major achievements he highlighted were Sarawak’s progress in securing greater autonomy and economic rights through negotiations under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) and the takeover of Bintulu Port.
“Bintulu Port as is a cash cow. It generates a lot of revenue. Practically every day, millions are coming in,” he said.
He also highlighted the establishment of Sarawak’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, describing it as a significant initiative that would ensure the State’s wealth was professionally managed to generate long-term returns.
On infrastructure, Abdul Karim cited the Second Trunk Road, Coastal Highway and construction of 22 bridges as major game changers that had improved connectivity across Sarawak.
He said these developments had significantly reduced travelling distances for rural communities, citing the Batang Lupar Bridge as an example of how infrastructure projects were transforming accessibility.
“Can you imagine 22 bridges within five years, less than five years? The Coastal Highway and these bridges are all game changers which have an impact on the ground,” he emphasised.
He also pointed to various Sarawak government assistance programmes, including financial assistance for women giving birth and free tertiary education initiatives, as evidence of its commitment to improving the well-being of Sarawakians.
“Where else in Malaysia can you find a State that provides free education?,” he asked.
Abdul Karim said these initiatives reflected the government’s efforts to strengthen Sarawak’s control over its resources while building a stronger economic foundation for the future.
He added that the State’s development agenda under the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which aims to transform Sarawak into a high-income region, was another important consideration for voters.
On whether GPS’ development narrative would resonate with voters, he said the coalition wanted the people to give it another mandate to continue the work undertaken by Abang Johari and his administration.
“If everything is going well, as we believe is happening in Sarawak, should we vote out the government? We should instead push them to continue because they have a vision,” he added.
Turning to the issues expected to feature during the campaign, Abdul Karim viewed that land and Native Customary Rights (NCR) disputes, which had traditionally dominated previous elections, had become relatively less prominent.
While acknowledging that such issues remained unresolved in certain areas, he said voters were increasingly looking at broader matters, particularly economic development and the management of Sarawak’s resources.
He attributed this shift to Sarawak’s growing financial capacity, noting that Sarawak’s revenue had increased threefold from about RM6 billion when Abang Johari took office in 2017.
“The most recent budget tabled was also the largest in Sarawak’s history. For a government to table such a large budget, it must have the resources to support it. You cannot present a substantial budget without revenue. From this, you can see how the government has managed the State’s finances and administration.
“The bigger issue now is how we want to manage our resources,” he said, adding that voters were increasingly able to consider broader development priorities when evaluating the government’s performance.
Asked about concerns over racist and extreme campaign narratives being advanced by certain quarters or parties, Abdul Karim said GPS believed voters were intelligent enough to assess the issues for themselves.
“We do not want to coach them. We want them to look at the issues and make their decisions in a more pragmatic and analytical manner before casting their ballots,” he said. — DayakDaily
