PAS Sarawak open to PBDS partnership for State election, says DAP talks ‘not yet’ amid federal tensions

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By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, March 7: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak is open to partnering with Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) ahead of the upcoming State election, while discussions with Democratic Action Party (DAP) have not taken place amid federal-level political tensions.

PAS Sarawak commissioner Arifiriazul Paijo said the party is engaging as many stakeholders as possible and is open to various forms of collaboration, including potential alliances for the State polls.

“Even if PBDS wants to cooperate, we are open to discussions in any field. We do not close the door to any parties.

“As long as there is common ground, our principle is simple: if it benefits the people of Sarawak and Sarawak as a whole, we are ready to work together,” he said after attending a breaking-of-fast event with media practitioners and representatives from non-governmental organisations at a local hotel here yesterday (March 6).

He further said that while PAS Sarawak has yet to initiate formal discussions with PBDS, the party maintains cordial relations with its leadership.

“PBDS president Dr John Brian Anthony used to be our good friend, so it could be possible in the future,” he added.

However, when asked about the possibility of collaborating with DAP, Arifiriazul said no discussions have taken place due to federal-level political dynamics.

“With the current situation at the federal level, at the moment, no discussions have taken place — not yet.

“As I mentioned, politics is very dynamic. We don’t know what will happen. Today they may be against us, but in the future they might be our friend,” he pointed out.

Touching on the recent leadership changes within Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Sarawak — of which both PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) are State allies — Arifiriazul said he personally maintains a good relationship with Bersatu Sarawak’s former chairman, Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian.

“Since I was appointed commissioner and Jaziri was PN Sarawak chairman, we met a few times to discuss what we could do together and even planned to hold a PN meeting in November or December.

“But when the situation worsened, he relinquished his position as both Bersatu Sarawak chairman and PN Sarawak chairman. It is now up to PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar to decide whether PAS will lead PN in Sarawak,” he stated.

Jaziri resigned as PN Sarawak chairman following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as PN national chairman at the end of 2025, prompting a series of leadership changes at both federal and State levels.

At the same time, Arifiriazul revealed that PAS Sarawak has identified at least four seats to contest in the upcoming Sarawak election, with Beting Maro confirmed among them.

“Beting Maro is one of the seats that we will contest. The other three seats are those we have contested previously across Sarawak,” he said.

PAS has contested Beting Maro since 2001 and has consistently been the runner-up. In the most recent State election, Arifiriazul, a newcomer at the time, secured 2,058 votes, while incumbent Razaili Gapor (GPS-PBB) retained the seat with 3,769 votes.

The party has since strengthened its presence in the constituency, including establishing a service centre and conducting regular visits to assist residents, he said.

He also noted that PAS Sarawak remains open to fielding non-Muslim candidates through its supporter wing, Dewan Himpunan Pendukung PAS (DHPP), highlighting that the party had previously fielded a non-Muslim candidate in the Kakus seat — Clement Bayang — during the 2016 State election.

PAS Sarawak currently has about 8,000 to 10,000 members Statewide, including more than 1,000 under DHPP.

The party has established 11 divisions across Sarawak: Petra Jaya, Santubong, Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Mukah, Sibu, Bintulu, Sibuti, Miri and Limbang. — DayakDaily

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