PBB says PAS cannot win Sarawak voters with race-based politics as state election looms in 2026
KUCHING: The backbone of Sarawak’s ruling coalition has a measured response to Parti Islam Se-Malaysia’s (PAS) confident talk of making political inroads in the state: not worried.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), the dominant party within the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government, said PAS fundamentally misunderstands the nature of Sarawak’s political landscape — one that has never been won or lost on race or religion alone.
PBB Women vice-chairperson Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri made the remarks during a Ramadan event in Kuching, responding to recent statements by Sarawak PAS Commissioner Arifiriazul Paijo, who declared that the party intends to field candidates in the coming state elections and is growing its membership base in the state.
“In any constituency, there are mixtures of people from many races,” said Nancy, who also serves as federal Minister for Women, Family and Community Development.
“For example, in Malay majority seats, there are also significant numbers of voters who are Chinese, Ibans, Bidayuhs. In Iban majority seats, there are many voters who are Malay, Chinese, Bidayuhs. Even in Bidayuh majority seats, there are sizeable numbers of Chinese, Malays and Ibans.”
She said any party contesting in Sarawak must be capable of securing votes across all communities — and put a direct challenge to PAS. “Can PAS align their ideology to cater to the interest of all communities in Sarawak?” she asked.
Nancy was equally blunt on the prospect of direct competition. Should PAS choose to contest in Malay-majority seats, she said, it will find PBB waiting. “PBB is ready to contest against any party,” she said.
On the other side of the debate, Arifiriazul struck an optimistic tone at a separate Ramadan gathering in Kuching, claiming that PAS membership in Sarawak has grown to around 10,000 and that the party has identified four constituencies where its influence is gaining ground.
He said PAS is open to forming alliances with local parties and pointed to Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) as a potential partner. “We have good friends in PBDS and we can work together for the betterment of the local communities,” he said.
Arifiriazul added that PAS national leaders are actively involved in ground preparations for the state polls, and that the party sees itself playing a meaningful check-and-balance role in Sarawak.
Despite the confident rhetoric, PAS has yet to win a single seat in Sarawak — at either the state assembly or parliamentary level.
The timing of the state election is itself a subject of active speculation. GPS sources have indicated that the ruling coalition may dissolve the State Legislative Assembly shortly after the June Gawai Dayak festivities, potentially triggering polls in July or early August. The current assembly term expires on December 18, 2026, but GPS is widely expected to go to the polls well before that deadline.
“The present political situation in Sarawak is stable enough for GPS to return with a good majority,” a GPS source said, adding that the festive mood generated by Gawai — celebrated primarily by Dayaks, who form the majority of the state’s voters — could work in the coalition’s favour.
GPS currently holds an overwhelming grip on the 82-seat state assembly, controlling 80 seats. The remaining two — Padungan and Pending — are held by Sarawak DAP. GPS is made up of PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Sarawak United Peoples Party and the Progressive Democratic Party.
With ground-level projects being rolled out and substantial financial allocations already in place, the ruling coalition appears to be making little secret of its preparations for an early election.
The Sun Malaysia
