Last week, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Jemut Masing warned that BN's downfall could be repeated in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) if one party was too dominant and did not listen to its coalition partners. 

Masing's statement raised eyebrows, as it appeared to indicate that cracks were beginning to emerge in GPS – the four-party coalition formed in June after the dissolution of Sarawak BN.

In response, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the largest party in GPS, took umbrage at being likened to a "bully."

"He (Masing) is entitled to his opinion and I accept that.

"But this is a rather sensitive statement that I wish he did not utter publicly," PBB secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi told Malaysiakini today, adding that the remark ran the risk of being misinterpreted due to it being carried in a newspaper.

Linggi (photo) pointed out that GPS' enemies may use such statements against the ruling coalition in Sarawak, and that Masing should have aired his views with PBB leaders first before going public.

"I disagree that he perceives PBB to behave like Umno (and made it sound) as though we are bullies, and that we don't care about our comrades' opinions. That's not very tasteful.

"I would like further comments on this issue to be stopped. Nothing substantial or good can come out of this if prolonged debates and arguments are made in public," he stressed.

Two-way relationship

Linggi also said that PBB leaders are approachable, and that the party was always ready to help its coalition partners, save for when they are faced with internal conflicts. 

He pointed to PBB listening to its allies – then part of Sarawak BN – when picking candidates to field in the 14th general election, even if their own candidates stood better chances in those seats. 

"In the end, we still agreed, the PBB leadership did not force others to take our advice.

"However, while we have to work together, it is not just us that has to listen to them, they must listen to us also, it has to be two ways," the Kapit lawmaker told Malaysiakini.

Borneo Post had reported Masing (photo) as saying that there needed to be meaningful power-sharing in GPS for the coalition to take on Pakatan Harapan in the 2021 Sarawak polls.

“GPS, especially PBB, does not take too kindly to its partners’ suggestions to better itself as a political organisation.

"This was what happened to Umno prior to the May 9 polls. I suggest we learn from history," he said during a PRS conference on Saturday.

Masing added that the BN concept was correct, but was failed by its implementation. 

“That led to the downfall of BN and Umno which had ruled Malaya and later, Malaysia for 61 years. It is a case of pride before a fall.

“GPS could fall to the same fate, if PBB is too dominant and refuses to listen to input from its smaller coalition partners. 'Pride before a fall' can be repeated come 2021,” he said.

'Biggest party should lead'

Borneo Post also reported PBB veteran and former minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar defending the party's dominance in GPS, pointing to its membership of 300,000 across Sarawak. 

Linggi agreed with Wan Junaidi's sentiment, saying that the "general rule is that the party holds most seat should take the opportunity to lead."

"It is convention, it is nothing new and nothing unusual," he said when asked if all four parties in GPS are equal, or there is 'big brother' in the coalition.

Of GPS component parties, PBB holds 46 of the 82 seats in the Sarawak legislative assembly, followed by PRS' 11, Sarawak United People’s Party's seven and the Progressive Democratic Party's three.