No opposition, no problem: backbenchers will keep check, says Karim

In Sarawak, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) holds control of 80 out of the 82 seats in the current state assembly, with the remaining two seats being occupied by the Democratic Action Party (DAP). Elections are anticipated to take place by December. State Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, also known as Karim, stated that backbenchers from GPS will maintain oversight over the Sarawak state government if GPS secures a resounding victory in the upcoming state election.

Karim explained to Dayak Daily that these backbenchers would function akin to an opposition group, exerting pressure on the government.

Karim emphasized that, beyond the ombudsman unit and other accountability mechanisms, GPS possesses its own checks and balances to ensure transparency and responsibility. He pointed out that despite the lack of a strong opposition, the GPS state government maintains adequate control. Previously, Karim had declared in 2023 that the GPS government's management of the state was robust, even though there were apprehensions concerning the absence of a formidable opposition.

In November 2023, Sarawak made history by becoming the first state to officially establish an ombudsman unit through legislation, following the passage of the Sarawak Ombudsman Bill at the state assembly. Nevertheless, in 2025, the DAP chairman of Sarawak, Chong Chieng Jen, criticized the state government for its sluggish approach and lack of transparency in the processing of the ombudsman unit's report.