Analysts believe PKR should allow DAP to contest the Batu Lintang seat in the upcoming Sarawak state election, saying DAP enjoys stronger support among the constituency’s Chinese-majority electorate.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Dick Lembang Dugun said PKR’s presence in Sarawak was almost non-existent, while DAP remained an outspoken party in the state’s political landscape.
“PKR is toothless today in speaking on Sarawakian issues and rights,” he told FMT.
“I believe it would be the right decision for DAP to contest Batu Lintang. Sarawak DAP is seen as being more functional compared with PKR in today’s political environment in Sarawak.”
In the 2021 Sarawak state election, PKR contested 28 seats but failed to win any. Twenty-two of its candidates also lost their election deposits.
University of Tasmania’s James Chin said DAP had an advantage in Batu Lintang because of its stronger appeal among Chinese voters, who make up the majority of the constituency’s electorate.
“Historically, DAP was successful in Batu Lintang, and Chinese voters, who comprise more than 80% of voters there, have shown they are more likely to vote for DAP rather than PKR,” he said.
Batu Lintang’s history of changing political hands
Established in 1991, Batu Lintang was previously a stronghold of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
DAP wrested the seat in 2006, marking the opposition’s first victory there, before making way for PKR’s See Chee How, who comfortably retained it in 2011.
See won the seat again for PKR in 2016 but was sacked by the party in 2020 for going against its leadership.
In 2021, he defended the seat on a Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) ticket, although with a slim majority of 93 votes.
See secured 4,420 votes against SUPP’s Sih Hua Tong, who received 4,327 votes, while PKR candidate Cherishe Ng garnered 1,823 votes.
See’s chances could be affected by SUPP move
Amid speculation that See could be fielded by SUPP in the upcoming polls, Chin and Dugun believe his chances could be weaker if he contests as a GPS candidate.
Chin said Batu Lintang voters had historically leaned towards the opposition, citing previous state election results, including the 2021 polls, when PSB, then an opposition party, won despite a split in opposition votes.
In 2021, opposition votes were largely divided among PSB, PKR and Parti Bumi Kenyalang, which secured 1,570 votes, only several hundred fewer than PKR.
“That shows how opposition-leaning voters in that seat are. So by joining the state government through SUPP, See has actually affected his chances,” Chin said.
Dugun said staunch opposition supporters might express their dissatisfaction with See’s decision to join SUPP and contest as a GPS candidate by voting against him.
He added that DAP would need to present the right campaign messages to win over Chinese voters, but said the party was capable of addressing the issue.
“The Chinese tend to think that there must be a strong opposition in the state assembly to act as a check and balance. They know that the dominance of one coalition or party in government is unhealthy,” he said.
Strong DAP candidate could improve its chances
Acknowledging the advantage of See’s three-term incumbency, Chin said DAP would need to field a strong and prominent candidate to improve its chances of regaining Batu Lintang for Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“If it puts up Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen or two-term Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, or even Chong’s aide Michael Kong, who has been around for quite long, then they stand a very good chance,” he said.
