Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru is gunning for a third force to prevail in the post May 9 political landscape of the state.

Speaking to Malaysiakini today, PDBSB president Cobbold John Lusoi said the party is mulling the formation of a new coalition to keep both the Pakatan Harapan and Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalitions in check.

“I am currently in talks with several home-grown parties for the formation of the third alternative coalition, Sarawak Baru Alliance, as the time is right, in view of the upcoming state elections,” he said, referring to the polls for the state assembly in 2021.

Cobbold said Sarawak Baru Alliance will stand as a strong opposition and will seek to be the “favoured alternative pact.”

“I can sense that Sarawakians, largely the Dayaks, are not happy and confident with the current coalitions representing their interests.

“The Dayaks are aware of what GPS has done so far and what it has not done over the last few decades to alleviate the many issues concerning the Dayak people.

“They are also aware of the current ruling coalition’s weaknesses in terms of uplifting the various socio-economic aspects that have dogged the Dayak community all these years,” he said.

GPS was formed last month after the four parties comprising Sarawak BN – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) – left the coalition to form their own.

NCR rights

Cobbold also pointed out that there is still much to be done in solving issues pertaining to native customary rights.

“NCR is a very thorny issue and initiatives by the state administration to handle critical matters such as native land and related matters are slow in coming, and even the outcome is less than satisfactory when matters are raised in the state assembly,” he added.

When asked how Sarawakians, largely the Dayaks, are warming up to the state Harapan coalition, he pointed out that the native community has always been wary of Malayan-based parties operating in the state.

“Local parties with their own home-grown politicians will understand better the sentiments and needs of the Dayaks and Sarawakians.

“It is for this reason, that PBDSB has always crusaded for a native-based party to rule the state and to take care of the affairs of the Dayaks and Sarawakians at large.

“We will never compromise when it comes to the Sarawak agenda, especially if it is already etched out in MA63 and also matters pertaining to the Petroleum Development Act of 1974."

S'wak representation

The PDBSB president also raised the issue of the current federal cabinet lineup.

“Look at the present cabinet lineup. Sarawak has one minister (PKR's Baru Bian) and just one deputy minister (DAP's Chong Chieng Jen) at the federal level.

"We do not know on what basis Mahathir allocated the ministerial appointments, but not many Sarawakians are happy with these token ministerial appointments.

“PBDSB has always stood up for a state administration consisting an amalgamation of local Dayak-based parties and our fight towards achieving this will bear fruit in the long run,” he said. 

According to Cobbold, his party is looking into engaging with the State Reform Party (Star), the United Peoples Party (UPP), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), the Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) and the Sarawak Peoples Energy Party (Teras).

‘When all these parties come together we will strive to be a force to reckon with as there is a big chance that Sarawakians will accept this united opposition front,” he said.

On another note, Cobbold said he does not reject the entry of Bersatu into the state.

“It is their right to operate where they want, just like the other Malayan parties that are already present here. But we will take them on tooth and nail at the ballot box.”