PBDS shifts strategy to focus on grassroots support

2026-03-28 - 12:11

PBDS president John Brian Anthony said the party’s electoral strategy is now tied to its branch-level organisational strength. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak will contest state assembly seats only in areas where it has an established grassroots presence, says party president John Brian Anthony. He said the party was making a shift of electoral strategy from its traditional top-down approach. “We are now building from the ground up, not from the top down like most other parties in the state,” the Borneo Post quoted him as saying. As part of its strategy, the party has moved its headquarters from Sibu to Kuching, with John opening the new premises at Mile 9, Kuching, today. “Kuching is a more strategic site: it is where the government sits, and major government offices are located here,” he said. “As the (elections are coming up, the new headquarters will also serve as our base of operations.” In conjunction with the opening, the party announced the appointment of vice president Kipli Ayom as its elections director. John said the party’s electoral strategy is now tied to its branch-level organisational strength, an approach that would ensure continuity of the party’s work regardless of election outcomes. “Whether we win or lose, we will still be able to serve the people. If there is a PBDS branch in a state constituency, we will definitely contest the seat,” he said. John said PBDS aims to establish at least 50 branches by the end of the year, focusing on urban Dayak-majority areas.