KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has performed strongly over the past five years by maintaining a clear long-horizon strategic direction that anchors investment, infrastructure development, and “digital plus green” priorities, said political analyst, Dr Lee Kuok Tiung.
Lee said the coalition’s performance has gained recognition beyond Sarawak, pointing to the recently concluded Sabah State Election where political actors across parties cited Sarawak as a model of governance and even used it as campaign capital.
“In the recently concluded Sabah State Election, the fact that political actors across parties say Sabah should become like Sarawak as their campaign capital, or cite Sarawak as a model of governance, is a testament to and recognition that Sarawak under GPS has done an excellent job,” he said when contacted by Sarawak Tribune.
According to Lee, one of GPS’ key strengths has been its ability to position Sarawak strategically in emerging sectors, particularly green and renewable energy.
“GPS has performed strongly in its strategic direction (a clear long-horizon framework) that anchors investment, infrastructure and ‘digital + green’ priorities. The coalition has helped position Sarawak as a hydrogen or green-energy hub,” he said.
However, he cautioned that persistent structural issues remain, particularly rural-urban inequality.
“Persistent concerns remain around rural-urban inequality, which covers the water, roads and digital poverty (internet quality) issues,” he added.
Looking ahead to 2026, Lee said one of the most key challenges for the Sarawak Government would be translating Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) negotiations into concrete and precise revenue mechanisms.
“There have been achievements under MA63, but much more needs to be done,” he said.
He added that the resource sector remains both a risk and an opportunity, particularly in relation to the evolving dynamics between Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (PETROS).
“The resource sector, through PETROS-PETRONAS, is an uncertain risk but also an opportunity to generate more income and boost Sarawak’s prosperity,” he said.
“In the recently concluded Sabah State Election, the fact that political actors across parties say Sabah should become like Sarawak as their campaign capital, or cite Sarawak as a model of governance, is a testament to and recognition that Sarawak under GPS has done an excellent job,” he said when contacted by Sarawak Tribune.
According to Lee, one of GPS’ key strengths has been its ability to position Sarawak strategically in emerging sectors, particularly green and renewable energy.
“GPS has performed strongly in its strategic direction (a clear long-horizon framework) that anchors investment, infrastructure and ‘digital + green’ priorities. The coalition has helped position Sarawak as a hydrogen or green-energy hub,” he said.
However, he cautioned that persistent structural issues remain, particularly rural-urban inequality.
“Persistent concerns remain around rural-urban inequality, which covers the water, roads and digital poverty (internet quality) issues,” he added.
Looking ahead to 2026, Lee said one of the most key challenges for the Sarawak Government would be translating Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) negotiations into concrete and precise revenue mechanisms.
“There have been achievements under MA63, but much more needs to be done,” he said.
He added that the resource sector remains both a risk and an opportunity, particularly in relation to the evolving dynamics between Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (PETROS).
“The resource sector, through PETROS-PETRONAS, is an uncertain risk but also an opportunity to generate more income and boost Sarawak’s prosperity,” he said.