Long-serving politicians a Sarawak norm, analysts say

PETALING JAYA: While Richard Riot Jaem’s bid for a ninth term as Serian MP has drawn criticism online, analysts say long-serving politicians are not unusual in a state where voters have traditionally prized experience, stability and development over generational change.

Dick Lembang Dugun of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) said the staying power of veteran MPs must be understood within the state’s political landscape, where Gabungan Parti Sarawak remains overwhelmingly dominant.

“GPS is becoming stronger in Sarawak politics because there is no credible opposition,” he told FMT.

He said many voters do not see a viable alternative to the ruling coalition, which has reinforced its position through visible development and welfare initiatives.

“From the time you are born until the time you die, the Sarawak government provides assistance to Sarawakians,” he said.

Jeniri Amir, a National Professors Council fellow, said veteran politicians are often deeply embedded in local social structures, making them familiar and trusted figures within their constituencies.

“Unlike some regions where younger voters strongly emphasise political renewal, Sarawak’s political culture has traditionally placed greater value on continuity and gradual change,” he said.

Riot, the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party deputy president, is among a number of long-serving political figures in the state.

The late governor Abdul Taib Mahmud, for instance, served 33 years as chief minister and 38 years as MP for Kota Samarahan. Another example is deputy premier Douglas Uggah Embas, who served as Betong’s MP for 32 years before moving to state-level leadership.

However, Jeniri said there are signs of gradual change, with younger voters increasingly exposed to social media, national debates and alternative sources of information.

“This could slowly influence expectations towards governance, transparency and policy performance,” he said.

Still, he stressed that Sarawak has not experienced a sharp political break, with stability and development continuing to favour experienced leaders.

“Whether they are among the last of their generation depends on how quickly Sarawak’s political culture evolves, and whether younger leaders can build the same level of trust and local influence accumulated over decades,” he said.

Dick, however, was more sceptical of near-term change, even if GPS’s dominance posed questions about democratic health in the state.

“I do not see, in the next two or five years, any change in public thinking that would lead people away from supporting GPS,” he said.