DAP’s Sarawak chapter may face significant challenges in the upcoming state election following the party’s wipeout in the recent Sabah polls, according to a political analyst.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Jayum Jawan said that although DAP has long been the dominant opposition party in Sarawak, the Chinese community increasingly perceives it as having underperformed in championing their interests.
As an example, he said DAP cannot claim responsibility for Sarawak’s recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
“The UEC is recognised in Sarawak, and soon in Sabah, but not because of DAP,” Jayum said, attributing the move instead to Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg. He added that Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor had publicly promised similar recognition if re-elected.
Jayum argued that DAP’s inability to secure national-level recognition of the UEC further weakens the party’s image.
“In Sarawak, DAP is seen as a lame-duck party. It is part of the federal government, but its leaders’ participation in the state administration has been curtailed by GPS,” he told FMT.
Jayum also pointed out that none of DAP’s five federal cabinet ministers come from Sabah or Sarawak, and noted that the Chinese community in Sarawak remains largely satisfied with the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) under Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian.
“SUPP is doing well. Support from the Malay-Melanau community allows Sim to push Chinese interests effectively within GPS,” he said. “The same wave that lifted DAP could be the one that sinks it.”
DAP lost all eight seats it contested in the Sabah state election, including six strongholds, leaving it without representation in the state assembly. In Sarawak, the party’s fortunes have also slid—from 12 seats in 2011 to just two in 2021, when it also lost its status as the largest opposition party to Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) before PSB later merged into GPS.
‘DAP still has opportunities to gain’
Despite its setbacks, political analyst James Chin of the University of Tasmania believes Sarawak DAP could still gain ground in the next state election, especially with the legislative assembly expected to increase the number of urban seats.
He said this could create more “winnable constituencies” for DAP.
Chin noted it was too early to tell whether Sarawak’s Chinese community shares the same sentiments as Sabah voters, though “the signs are there”. With the polls due only by April 2027, he said the party still has time to deliver on community expectations.
However, he said DAP will continue to struggle with a persistent question that has also plagued its Sabah chapter: Why represent a West Malaysian party?
“The Chinese are saying: ‘We appreciate you fighting for us, but form your own local party instead.’”
