Sarawak MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong has suggested that the political influence of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in forming the Federal Government could diminish if cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) continues to strengthen.
The Julau MP said GPS and GRS have traditionally been regarded as “kingmakers” in federal politics, but a stronger alliance between BN and PN could eventually allow the two West Malaysian coalitions to secure enough parliamentary seats to govern without relying on support from East Malaysian parties.
In a Facebook post, he pointed to the recent Johor and Negeri Sembilan state election results as evidence that cooperation between BN and PN has gained electoral traction and could evolve into a viable governing alliance ahead of the next general election.
He also predicted that if such cooperation continues to expand, BN and PN could not only compete for control of the Federal Government but also gain an advantage in future state elections across Peninsular Malaysia.
Citing the 2022 General Election, he noted that BN and PN collectively won 104 parliamentary seats, just eight seats short of the 112-seat simple majority needed to form the Federal Government.
Based on current political trends, he said the two coalitions could potentially secure a simple majority on their own after the 16th General Election, even without factoring in support from Sabah and Sarawak parties.
However, he cautioned that electoral cooperation does not automatically translate into a stable governing coalition, as both sides would still need to resolve issues such as seat allocations, candidate selection and policy differences before any alliance could succeed.
