Jeniri Amir said that opposition parties are just too weak in Sarawak compared with the dominant BN component, Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), The Borneo Post reported.
“Even if local parties could be gathered under one umbrella, as Mahathir has suggested, I am skeptical about what they could achieve.
“PBB is just too influential and strong. It would not make any impact on the local political scene,” he told the Sarawak-based daily, in throwing cold water on fears expressed by Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing.
He added that this was because there were no credible and influential leaders who could consolidate opposition parties in Sarawak under one umbrella.
Jeniri doubts opposition parties would have room to manoeuvre too.
“They will end up like Amanah and PAS in the last state election.”
Amanah and PAS contested in 13 and 11 seats respectively in the Sarawak election on May 7 and lost all of them.
Masing had reportedly said that the BN should not underestimate Dr Mahathir, urging the ruling coalition to be ready to fight its former leader.
“Mahathir was in BN and its supreme council for 22 years. So, we must assume that he knows the ‘tricks of the trade’,” Masing was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post.
He added that any gathering of parties in Sabah and Sarawak by Mahathir, if he could do it, will have an impact come GE14.
“If Mahathir could rope in all parties under one political umbrella, there must be valid reasons for them to follow him.”
Meanwhile, PBDS Baru President Cobbold Lusoi agreed that it would be a good idea for all opposition parties to unite under one umbrella.
“No one from Mahathir’s side has contacted me. We are not sure what’s happening in Peninsular Malaysia,” Cobbold said.
Cobbold, who took over as PBDS Baru president recently, withdrew his party from the Gabungan Rakyat SakSaMa (SakSaMa) a few days after it signed up as a founding member.
PBDS Baru then went solo in the May 7 state election and lost its deposits in all five seats it contested.