Chin said GPS could not realistically expand into Sabah without redefining its political identity to something like ‘Borneo First’ or ‘Sabah-Sarawak First’, which could dilute its original purpose.
KUCHING (July 25): Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is unlikely to expand into Sabah or evolve into a Borneo-wide coalition because its political identity is firmly rooted in its ‘Sarawak First’ philosophy, according to political analyst Prof James Chin.
The professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, Australia, said while the idea of a Borneo Bloc may appeal to many, it is unlikely to materialise under the current GPS framework.
He said GPS could not realistically expand into Sabah without redefining its political identity to something like ‘Borneo First’ or ‘Sabah-Sarawak First’, which could dilute its original purpose.
“If you expand to Sabah, you have to redo the tagline and become ‘Borneo First’ or ‘Sabah-Sarawak First’, which doesn’t make a lot of sense. So this idea will go nowhere in the GPS system,” he said.
Chin added that, based on his understanding of the personalities within GPS, the coalition’s leaders have little interest in entering Sabah politics.
He noted that operating in Sabah would expose GPS to a political landscape very different from Sarawak’s, including direct competition with parties such as Barisan Nasional and Umno, making expansion more complicated and less attractive.
Chin was commenting on a proposal by Borneo Dayak Forum International president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for GPS to expand into a Sabah-Sarawak political alliance under a proposed Borneo Bloc.
Speaking at the Sarawak Independence Day Cultural Parade Vol. 2 at Tasik Biru on Wednesday, Jeffery, who is also the Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman, said a united Sabah-Sarawak alliance would give both states a stronger voice in Parliament and greater leverage in defending their constitutional rights.
He proposed “adding another ‘S’” to GPS to create a Sabah-Sarawak alliance, saying the coalition’s political unity in Sarawak had proven successful.
“I think GPS has been successful. I propose adding another ‘S’ to make it a Sabah-Sarawak alliance under the Borneo Bloc, so that we can speak with one voice in Parliament,” he said.
Jeffrey noted that Sabah and Sarawak together hold 57 parliamentary seats, making such an alliance one of the largest blocs in Parliament.
He expressed hope that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg would support the proposal, saying Sarawak’s political unity had strengthened its efforts to reclaim its rights, particularly on oil and gas matters.
As Sabah and Sarawak share the same constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), he said both states should work more closely to strengthen their bargaining position with the federal government.
Meanwhile, political sociologist Prof Novel Lyndon said Jeffrey’s proposal should be viewed as more than a suggestion for electoral cooperation.
“It reflects the continuing evolution of a regional political identity in Borneo, where Sabah and Sarawak are increasingly framing themselves not merely as two states within the Federation, but as equal partners whose constitutional position deserves stronger recognition,” he said.
Novel said the proposal builds on a growing narrative centred on regional autonomy, MA63, fiscal rights, natural resource governance and greater decision-making authority.
“These issues have become important symbols of political identity, particularly in both Sabah and Sarawak, where public discourse increasingly emphasises protecting state interests while remaining within the Malaysian federation,” he said.
He said closer political cooperation between Sabah and Sarawak could strengthen their collective bargaining power at the federal level, particularly on development, fiscal arrangements and constitutional matters.
However, he stressed that transforming the idea into a formal and lasting political alliance would require more than parliamentary arithmetic.
“It requires convergence in political priorities, institutional arrangements, leadership consensus and long-term strategic objectives across parties in both states.
“At the same time, it is important to recognise that Sabah and Sarawak have developed different political landscapes. While Sarawak has achieved a relatively high degree of political consolidation through GPS, Sabah remains characterised by a more fragmented and competitive party system.
“This structural difference means that translating the idea of a Borneo political bloc into reality will be considerably more complex than the proposal itself suggests,” he said.
Novel described the proposal as politically significant because it reflects the increasing maturity of regional politics in East Malaysia.
“Whether or not it materialises in its proposed form, it signals that Sabah and Sarawak are seeking a stronger collective voice in shaping the future of Malaysian federalism.
“Ultimately, the success of any Sabah-Sarawak alliance will not depend solely on the number of parliamentary seats it commands, but on whether it can build sustained political cohesion, public legitimacy and a shared long-term vision for both states within the Federation,” he said.
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