Pakatan Harapan unveiled its manifesto for Sarawak last night but for some 10,000 people who thronged the ceramah in Kuching, the main attraction was not so much the coalition's document but its top speakers.

Both Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang received rockstar welcome from the crowd.

Their message was similar to many other Harapan ceramah sessions in Peninsular Malaysia, with the addition on the rights of Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian Federation.

But a novel message was that both veteran leaders not only spoke about winning Putrajaya, but also called on East Malaysia to propel Harapan to gain a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

"We need to win at least 40 parliamentary seats from Sabah and Sarawak. Is that possible?

"If we want to restructure the Malaysian government, we need a two-thirds majority.

"Kuching and Sarawak can be the key to change," Lim said.

Collectively, Sabah and Sarawak have 56 Parliament seats, 46 of which belong to BN. Lim's target of 40 seats means that Harapan will need to capture more than 70 percent of the parliamentary seats in East Malaysia.

Mahathir, who was the last speaker, similarly emphasised on the same message.

"In the next general election, you must give full support to Harapan because, without a two-thirds majority, you cannot change the constitution.

"We need to change some of the provisions of the Federal Constitution so that we can be fair to all the regions of Malaysia - Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula," Mahathir said.

While it is true that two-thirds majority is required to amend the Federal Constitution, the opposition coalition had in the past similarly promised more rights for Sabah and Sarawak without emphasising on capturing a two-thirds majority.

Increasing reliance on Sabah, Sarawak

The apparent leap from capturing Putrajaya, which is already an uphill battle, to winning a two-thirds majority, appears to be a significant raising of the bar for the opposition in Sabah and Sarawak.

But Harapan's increasing reliance on Sabah and Sarawak do not come as a surprise amidst uncertainties the coalition is facing in Peninsular Malaysia.

PAS has threatened to contest in more than 100 parliamentary seats, despite only targeting to win 40.

PKR leaders advocating further talks with PAS have warned of the possible disastrous outcome of multi-cornered fights.

Meanwhile, top Harapan leaders have tried to be firm on pressing ahead without PAS - not out of a lack of understanding of the consequences but recognising that courting a disinterested PAS would be a lost cause.

The strongest caution had come from PKR vice-president Tian Chua, who warned of Harapan and PAS "slaughtering" each other.

But as Harapan leaders continue to debate the extent of damage PAS could inflict on Harapan in Peninsular Malaysia, what is apparent is that PAS' strength in East Malaysia is negligible.

And even though PAS was not once mentioned during the Kuching ceramah, East Malaysia is more important than before for the opposition coalition.

Already DAP and PKR in Sarawak have closed ranks, after a bitter quarrel during the Sarawak election last year that resulted in voters' rebuking these two parties.

Amanah elections director Hatta Ramli (photo), who also spoke at the ceramah last night, acknowledged Sarawak Harapan's past failings.

"In the last state election, many people were unhappy, we did not do as well as we did in 2011.

"Why? Because we were not seen as united. But ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, you cannot deny a stronger solidarity among the opposition parties than now in Harapan.

"We are willing to forgo our egos," Hatta told the audience.

While setting the bar higher - at two-thirds majority, may motivate Harapan to strive for a better performance, capturing Putrajaya remains an uphill battle for the coalition.