Tiong’s image as political bigwig makes him untouchable, says analyst

PETALING JAYA: Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) decision to downplay its vice-chairman Tiong King Sing’s presence at a Pakatan Harapan (PH) ceramah in Johor was a measured response by the state’s ruling coalition, an analyst said.

Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi said that while GPS has barred its members from participating in electoral activities outside Sarawak, it would not act against the Bintulu MP because he is a “political bigwig”.

Apart from being a parliamentarian, Tiong is also the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president and federal tourism minister.

Awang Azman said any action against Tiong could give the impression that there is disunity in GPS, especially given PDP’s strained ties with the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party.

He said GPS also has to maintain strategic ties with the PH-led federal government and therefore any action against Tiong would send the wrong signals to Putrajaya.

“GPS’s approach of distancing itself from Tiong is really a form of damage control. It helps GPS maintain neutrality in Johor and avoid sparking an internal crisis,” he told FMT.

However, Awang Azman said, Tiong’s actions would give the impression that he enjoyed a certain degree of political autonomy, considering it was not the first time he had gone to the ground outside Sarawak.

In November, Tiong campaigned for PH’s Merotai candidate Ruji Ubi in apparent defiance of a GPS directive about participating in the Sabah polls.

Tiong later denied violating the directive, while Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth claimed that the Bintulu MP campaigned in Sabah in his capacity as a federal minister.

Awang Azman said Tiong’s action would give the impression that GPS leaders were more comfortable working with PH in the context of the unity government.

On the other hand, it could create unease among other GPS components given that one member’s action could be interpreted as the coalition’s stand.

On Tuesday, GPS information chief Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Tiong attended the ceramah in his personal capacity and that it had nothing to do with the coalition.

Also present at the ceremah was PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim.

“Speculation linking GPS to such political campaigning is wholly untrue,” he said, adding that they remain consistent in refusing to get involved in election campaigns in other states.

Separately, James Chin of the University of Tasmania says that Tiong’s actions had zero bearing on GPS as its leaders are well aware that he “does this sort of thing”.

“GPS leaders are not going to tell Tiong straight in the face to stop doing it,” he told FMT.

He described the statement issued by Karim as a “standard” statement.

“It’s exactly the same statement they put out when he was in Sabah, saying that this is a personal action, nothing to do with GPS.”

Like Awang Azman, Chin is also of the view that GPS would not take action against Tiong and noted that GPS did not reprimand him despite complaints at the coalition’s convention.

“The reason is very simple: the state election is coming, and they don’t want to rock the boat.”

Sarawak must hold an election by April next year at the latest.