News analysis

Sarawak's GPS emerging as kingmaker in national politics

It could use momentum of state victory to further increase share of parliamentary seats in next GE

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Sarawak's Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) could strengthen its role as a crucial kingmaker determining the next Malaysian government, after scoring a big victory in the Sarawak elections on Saturday.

GPS, which already supplies 18 MPs for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's thin four-seat majority in Parliament, could further increase its share of Sarawak's 31 parliamentary seats in the next election using the momentum of Saturday's win, where it won 75 out of 82 seats in the Sarawak state assembly - the biggest win in the state's record.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 20, 2021, with the headline Sarawak's GPS emerging as kingmaker in national politics. Subscribe