PBM says GPS, GRS may lose kingmaker role following BN-PN pact, S'wak minister disagrees

With the BN-Perikatan Nasional combo victorious in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan elections, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) predicts that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) may lose their kingmaker role after the 16th general election.

PBM president Larry Sng said this was because the BN-PN pact could easily secure a simple majority at the federal level, given the number of seats each coalition won in the last general election.

The Julau MP added that the BN-PN formula could also sweep all states in the peninsula.

“The total combined (MP) seats won by BN and PN in 2022 was 104. The magic number to form government is 112.

“Only eight additional parliamentary seats are needed,” Sng (above) said on Facebook.

“Discounting the political alignment of East Malaysian parties, I believe that based on the current trajectory, it is highly likely that BN-PN will easily form the simple majority post GE16.

“That would also mean that GPS and GRS will no longer play the role of kingmaker,” he added.

Harapan trounced

In the recently concluded Negeri Sembilan polls, BN and PN consolidated Malay votes to win 25 seats for a two-thirds majority in the state. Pakatan Harapan was relegated to 11 seats.

READ MORE: BN-PN 'Malay unity' wave coming, and Harapan is in danger

Out of Harapan's 11 seats, DAP won nine, followed by two from PKR. Amanah did not secure any of the nine seats it targeted.

As for the Johor polls on July 11, BN, with assistance from PN, won 48 of the 56 seats available.

Harapan managed to secure only eight seats.

READ MORE: Johor polls: MCA trumps DAP, Bersama loses deposits but deals damage, PN wiped out

Sng was not alone in his assessment as PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari shared a similar view on Aug 2.

“If this BN-PN formula can be carried into the general election arena, every state in Peninsular Malaysia will be successfully captured, including Penang.

“Therefore, the PN and BN leadership should not look back anymore; continue with this winning formula,” the Pasir Mas MP said.

With the Malacca polls looming, state Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh has expressed willingness to discuss the possibility of working with PN but emphasised that it does not mean an agreement is guaranteed.

‘East M’sia indispensable’

In a response, Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stressed that East Malaysia remains indispensable to Putrajaya.

Despite Sng’s posited possibility, Karim said such a scenario should not overlook the strategic importance of the two Bornean states.

“We must also remember where Malaysia’s natural resources are located.

“Would political parties based in Peninsular Malaysia really be willing to take the risk of not cooperating with Sarawak or Sabah? Would they dare?” Borneo Post Online reported him as saying.

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