[Letter to the Editor] Dayak netizens weigh in on S’wak’s political future amid ‘volatile’ national landscape

Letter to the editor. —DayakDaily.com file pic. // Photo by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Letter to the Editor

By Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan

Just before Gawai Dayak, an online survey on leadership was uploaded and in less than 48 hours, it garnered more than 180 responses from Dayak netizens across Sarawak. When it was closed 72 hours later, the total responses had reached 209. The Dayak netizen respondents came from all electoral divisions in Sarawak, from Sematan in the south-west to Lawas in the north-east.

About 53 per cent of the total Dayak netizen respondents were Ibans, 26 per cent Bidayuh, and 17 per cent Orang Ulu. The remaining comprises others such as Melanau and Chinese, which were too small to skew the main result.

On leadership, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari got a favourable approval rating from about 81 (39 per cent) Dayak netizen respondents from the total of 209. Those were those who gave him a ranking of eight and above on the scale of one to 10. A total of 48 respondents (seven per cent) gave him an average grade, while 49 or 23 per cent gave him a “fail” grade.

A total of 65 (31 per cent) respondents thought that Abang Johari is a fair and inclusive leader, while 42 (25 per cent) thought otherwise. There were uncertain responses from 92 (44 per cent).

However, if all responses were to be split down the middle, then 87 (42 per cent) gave negative responses, while 122 (58 per cent) Dayak netizen respondents thought that Abang Jo is indeed an inclusive and fair leader.

When four leaders—Abang Johari, Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, and Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub—were brought up, the late Adenan stood as the most popular of all four. He was given a nod by 102 (49 per cent) Dayak netizen respondents. Abang Jo came in second with 54 (26 per cent) responses. The third biggest responses were from 49 who did not choose any of the four.

Of the four Dayak politicians who hold full ministerial positions in the State Cabinet, their rating for each of them as in the data below:

Source: Google Survey by Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Anak Jawan FASc, 30 May 2026

Five issues were listed, and respondents were asked which would be important to them when they go to vote:

Source: Google Survey by Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Anak Jawan FASc, 30 May 2026

Economic sharing and opportunities appear to be at the top of the list, followed by their perception of Dayak marginalisation. Race is not an important issue, and this could be consistent because voters in Dayak majority areas have elected non-Dayak candidates from all sides of the political divide since the 1960s, and neither is the education level of the candidates as important as other issues.

In view of the above issues and profiles, respondents were asked which political party they are most likely to support if elections were to be called today:

Source: Google Survey by Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Anak Jawan FASc, 30 May 2026

The next Sarawak election will be held in an atmosphere that is more testing than any the State has experienced before, given that the national political landscape is now very volatile.

Multi-party challenges appear to be the norm as the national political landscape is seeking a new balance following changing political scenarios brought about by a new political dynamic after the 2018 general election.

Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan is currently a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and at the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair at UiTM, as well as an Adjunct Professor with the Institute of Borneo Studies in Unimas.

This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.

— DayakDaily