By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Dec 14: With increasing speculation that the 12th state election is not far off, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) is bracing itself to pose as a formidable challenge to the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and state Pakatan Harapan (PH).
PBDSB president Cobbold John Lusoi revealed that his party would contest in all the 36 predominantly Dayak seats this time around.
“This time around, PBDSB is confident in facing the state election with greater support from younger voters who are better educated,” Cobbold told DayakDaily today.
He said PBDSB would also count on new voters and intellectual Dayaks to give them the edge over their opponents.
“Now it looks promising. And with both GPS and PH having proven to be who they are, the Dayaks should fully support a Dayak party to ensure their rights and interests are safeguarded.
“Who else can take care of ourselves if not by our own leaders in our own party?” he asked.
Meanwhile, commenting on the rise of Dayakism once again with the fall of the once mighty Barisan Nasional (BN) and with PH now at the federal level, Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya cautioned that PBDSB could split the Dayak community even further, this time around.
PBDSB will be up against GPS (comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and GPS-friendly Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and PH (comprising Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Amanah Negara (PAN), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
“Politics among the Dayaks with their participation in too many political parties such as PBDSB, PKR, DAP, UPP, PDP, PSB, PRS and PBB will further divide the community.
“But at the same time, these political parties will provide more options for the Dayak community to choose from,” he reckoned.
While the many choices will be good for the Dayak community, the situation will favour a local-based coalition like GPS to continue their dominance.
“This is because any split in the Dayak community will benefit GPS, which is a local-based component party, but inflict more harm on the Dayak community itself,” added Awang Azman. — DayakDaily
