GPS won the votes, but did it win over the people?

[superadmin]

KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s election debut as a coalition was a resounding success, both for the party and its leader, Abang Johari Openg.

It will certainly be a big morale booster for Abang Johari to have won more seats than the late Adenan Satem, former Barisan Nasional leader and chief minister, whose legacy still looms large over Sarawak.

Abang Johari has led GPS through some tough times since the 2018 general election which ended Barisan Nasional’s six decades in power. He has scored some big wins of his own, most notably on the state sales tax (SST) issue.

While analysts and observers will be dissecting the full results in the coming week, it must be noted that this was no ordinary state election.

On Saturday, only 60% of Sarawak’s 1.2 million voters had cast their vote. Restrictions on campaigning because of Covid-19 rules also made it more challenging for opposition candidates.

- More -