Kuching: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) has been accused of acting as a political proxy for the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), with claims that the party has adopted the same rhetoric long used by GPS and Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) against the Democratic Action Party (DAP).
Speaking in response to a recent statement by PBK President Voon Lee Shan, Sarawak DAPSY Deputy Chief Soo Tien Ren said PBK’s call for Sarawakians to re-examine what it described as “imported opposition politics” merely echoed a narrative consistently promoted by GPS and SUPP.
According to Soo, while PBK presents itself as a local opposition party, its political language, targets and line of argument are almost identical to those used by the ruling coalition.
“GPS has always liked to label DAP as a ‘West Malaysian party’, an ‘imported party’ and an ‘external force’. Today, PBK is using the very same language to attack DAP.
“Is such a party really monitoring GPS, or is it helping GPS complete the political work that GPS wants to do? Let me say this directly: PBK is GPS’s proxy,” he said.
Soo argued that the role of an opposition party is to scrutinise those in power, noting that GPS remains the dominant political force in Sarawak, controlling government policies, resources and administrative machinery.
He emphasised that many longstanding issues faced by Sarawakians, including inadequate infrastructure, water and electricity supply disruptions, poor road conditions, uneven rural development, excessive political appointments, inefficiencies in public projects and a lack of transparency and accountability, are linked to GPS’s decades-long administration of the state.
“However, PBK’s strongest attacks are not directed at GPS, the party in power, but at DAP, another party that is also monitoring the government.
“This is not the path a real opposition party should take. This is exactly the situation GPS wants to see,” he added.
Soo also referred to previous remarks by SUPP president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who had called for DAP to be defeated in the next Sarawak state election while suggesting that Sarawak could still have an opposition presence without DAP.
According to Soo, such statements indicate that GPS and SUPP are not opposed to having an opposition, but rather prefer an opposition that poses no significant challenge to the ruling coalition.
“The question is: can an opposition party that is liked, recognised and accepted by the ruling government still be an effective opposition?
“If the purpose of an opposition party is to make GPS comfortable; if its main function is to constantly attack another opposition party; if its narrative is exactly the same as SUPP and GPS, then Sarawakians must ask whether such a party is truly monitoring the government or merely helping it share its political burden,” he said.
Defending DAP’s place in Sarawak politics, Soo stressed that the party’s leaders, members, service teams and supporters in the state are all Sarawakians.
He described attempts to portray Sarawak DAP as an “imported opposition party” as disrespectful not only to party grassroots members but also to Sarawakian voters who have supported DAP at the ballot box.
“Does a Sarawakian suddenly stop being a Sarawakian simply because he or she joins a national political party? Does a party’s national platform mean that the voices of its Sarawakian members, leaders and voters no longer count as local voices?” he asked.
Soo maintained that the real issue is not where a political party’s headquarters is located, but whether it is willing to challenge those in power, hold the government accountable and speak on behalf of the people.
He said if PBK genuinely sees itself as a local opposition party, it should focus its efforts on scrutinising GPS rather than repeating narratives that benefit the ruling coalition.
“Sarawakians do not need an opposition party that carries a local label but repeats GPS’s script but need an opposition party that dares to monitor power, hold the government accountable, and stand on the side of the people,” he said.
Soo further alleged that GPS and SUPP would naturally prefer an opposition that does not fundamentally challenge the state’s political power structure and directs more criticism towards DAP than towards the government.
“But what use is such an opposition party to the people of Sarawak?” he asked.
He concluded by urging Sarawakians to recognise what he described as attempts to reshape the opposition landscape in a way that benefits GPS.
