Expect some hidden hands, though it is difficult to ascertain their origin, let alone their identity, working behind the scenes to create some level of uneasiness whenever there is a political party that is strong and stable and has a strong base support. And with state elections expected to be held soon next year, the veiled voices of the gambit are gradually surfacing.

When a political party GPS has been able to establish its domain of power, with majority support, stability, and authority, it tends to become the subject of some ‘hidden hands’ bent on secretly creating uneasiness to leaders and party members.

The claims of hidden hands may well be a fictitious, hyperbolic narrative of an imaginary trajectory that seeks attention from the corridor of power. For a party like GPS, being in power for a considerable period of time, with no formidable threats in sight, talks of interested individuals and groups with links to power lords are to be expected.

Constructed myth

It is quite common for the idea of unseen forces to be nothing more than a constructed myth, an interesting story designed to bring to light an unseen agenda and bring into the fold those who make decisions. The unseen forces or ‘hidden hands’ are quite often nothing more than a mix of guesswork and exaggeration, a plot designed to bring credibility into an otherwise uninteresting story.

Yet, we simply cannot afford to close the discussion or lock it in with a definitive, top-down conclusion because the social environment is always shifting, with the currents of that shifting environment impacting our ideas, our attitudes, our actions in subtle yet sometimes profound ways.

Public opinion

Cultural trends, economic conditions, technology, interactions between individuals can all play a part in the development of public opinion in a way that is unpredictable, even if these influences are not necessarily politically oriented. In order to be successful in this type of dynamic environment, we must move from a reactive position to a more proactive position that seeks to build a higher level of empathy.

We build a stronger society by listening to different viewpoints, encouraging communication, and crafting rules that reflect the realities of life rather than simply the visions of those in power. If a political party has managed to create its domain of power, with majority support, stability, and authority, it is likely that the party will become the target of some ‘hidden hands’ with the intention of secretly creating uneasiness among the leadership and the party members.

In search of platform

Are we not dealing with people in search of a platform on which to be seen? In their search for recognition, are we not dealing with people who are using the accoutrements of power without ever really possessing the substance behind them, and are therefore self-appointed magnates who are really without any actual power at all?

There is a certain irony in this: are we really dealing with people in positions of actual power, or are we dealing with shadows created by people who are desperate to have a foothold in the corridors of power?

Ah, the phantom challenger, ever present in the wings of our story, embodies a significant, albeit somewhat nebulous, source of tension. This is not a character waiting to be brought into the story, but rather a pressure, a whisper, that works upon the protagonist, upon their paranoia, and quietly shifts the entire scope of the narrative. The true intrigue, naturally, is not in the reveal, but in the resounding ambiguity of the challenger themselves.

Fictitious trajectory

Is this a tangible challenger, a particular antagonist waiting in the wings for the grand reveal, carefully crafted with backstory and motivation, whose long shadow lengthens with each passing page? Or is it, as I fervently believe, simply a ‘fictitious trajectory’—a narrative placeholder for the inevitability of adversity, a thematic reflection of challenges still to come? Is it the protagonist’s own developing shadow, their self-doubt personified, or is it some force still undefined, still unformed, yet already exerting influence, still pressing the boundaries of what is possible in the already-defined world?

Even though they may attempt to, they may not have the capacity to exploit latent social cleavages, utilize high-tech disinformation strategies to amplify their complaints, or cast doubt on the party's integrity, competence, and vision.

The ultimate product is a made-up fantasy that attempts to deny Sarawak's current political reality. A book on fiction is the best place for all the subplots, whispering plots, and Machiavellian storylines that occasionally appear and entertain the discerning political critics.