KUCHING, Sept 16: A local political pundit opines that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) may make a clean sweep of all 31 parliamentary seats in the State in face of a divided Opposition in the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
Dato Peter Minos said GPS has managed to play its cards well.
“Can GPS sweep all the 31 MP seats in Sarawak? It can given that the Opposition is woefully divided and hitting each other and given that GPS is pretty well prepared.
“(It is also because) GPS is running high and very popular with its ‘Sarawak First’ war cry and showing to Sarawakians that it has no particular love of Malayan politics and ways as well as how it has treated Sarawak all this while.
“Gps has long said ‘no to anak tirikan Sarawak’ (no to making Sarawak a stepchild). This sits very well to Sarawakians. This is the Sarawak mood. This is the natural mood,” said Minos in a statement today.
He opined that Democratic Action Party and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) are no longer wanted and popular in Sarawak, for being Malaya-based parties which may be wiped out and almost was in the 2021 Sarawak Election.
“As for PSB (Parti Sarawak Bersatu), Sarawakians are very confused and tired of its boasts and big talk. PSB does not seem to have good ideas or agendas for Sarawak and its people and (is) all empty talk only, boisterous and pompous,” said Minos.
He reiterated that GE15 would not be called in the last quarter of this year but first quarter of next year especially as United Malays National Organisation (Umno) while the rest of the political parties including mosquito parties all expressed their readiness for it including GPS.
“Ruling Ummo now under Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi wants it tomorrow, if he has his way. Unmo is itching for GE15 ever since it won the Melaka and Johor by-elections a few months back.
“Most political parties seem to be prepared and are in the mood for an early election this November, after the national budget in coming October.
“The only snag is: Is the prime minister ready for GE15? He and he alone has the legal power to advise the Agong to dissolve Parliament to pave way for the election.”
Minos opined the prime minister seems to be keen for the election as he had stated openly after the Johor by-election that he “would not wait for a day”.
However until now, he added, there were only signals and no action has been taken.
Despite the date for the announcement of the national budget being moved earlier from Oct 23 to 7, which led many to believe that this was the clearest and best signal that GE15 will be in November, Minos continued to assert that GE15 will be next year.
“A few days ago, the prime minister held a big meeting on the likely bad rains and flooding in November. This is a little odd. If there will heavy rains n flooding in November, how to hold the (15th) General Election?” said Minos, adding that the weather would discourage people from campaigning and voting.
“So if it is not in November, then when? This is my personal view. If November is out, definitely it will not be in December. So it will be next year, either after Chinese New Year or after Hari Raya (Aidilfitri) or between Chinese New Year and Hari Raya.
“This means either in March or May next year. We wait and see,” said Minos. — DayakDaily
