By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 18: Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has urged Sarawakians to continue supporting local political parties to safeguard the State’s interests, warning voters against allowing Peninsula-based parties to become dominant in Sarawak.
He said Sarawak’s political stability depends on having parties rooted in the State, which understand its unique interests and are accountable to Sarawakians.
“When the time comes for us to choose, choose a party from our own State. If it is a party from our own State, that party is Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS),” he said during the Rindok Ati Carnival 2026 in Bekenu today, as shown in a live broadcast on his official Facebook page.
Abdul Karim, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information chief, said Sarawak must learn from Sabah’s political experience and avoid a situation where decisions affecting the State could be influenced by parties based outside Sarawak.
“Don’t let us become like Sabah. Once things become entangled, it is difficult to untangle them,” he said.
He claimed that Sabah’s political challenges stemmed from the entry of Peninsula-based parties, which he said resulted in their elected representatives having to answer to party leadership outside the State.
“The mistake in Sabah, let me say it clearly, was when parties from Peninsular Malaysia entered.
“Once they came in, when decisions or agendas to benefit the State had to be made, their representatives in the State Legislative Assembly had to bow to their presidents. Where are their presidents? Their presidents are all in Peninsular Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
Abdul Karim claimed that when State-related matters were referred to party leadership outside Sabah, decisions could be affected by considerations beyond the State’s interests.
“When it is referred there, they look at it and say, ‘This may not be good for Malaysia’, and then it is stopped. That is how things became damaged because of political parties,” he said.
He said Sarawak had been able to avoid a similar situation by preventing Peninsula-based parties from becoming the main political force in the State.
While acknowledging the presence of opposition parties such as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Sarawak, Abdul Karim maintained that GPS, comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP), was the coalition capable of safeguarding the State’s stability and interests.
“In the coming election, we must remember there are no other parties except parties under GPS. These four coalition parties are the ones that can safeguard stability and other matters,” he said.
Abdul Karim also cited his involvement in negotiations related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), saying the process had highlighted the importance of having Sarawak-based political representation.
“Even in MA63 negotiations, it is not easy. It goes round and round. This is the reality,” he said. — DayakDaily
