KUCHING: Abdul Aziz Isa Marindo has resigned from Sarawak DAP and is now seeking to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the leading party in the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition.
Aziz, who was DAP’s candidate for the Batu Kitang state seat in both the 2016 and 2021 elections, told Utusan Sarawak that he officially stepped down from the party on January 28 after being a member for 11 and a half years.
Speaking to Utusan Sarawak, Aziz said he believed that Politics, at its core, is about service, not self-interest.
“My time in DAP was an invaluable chapter—I learnt, I grew, and I contributed. But as the English say, a change is as good as a rest.
“In PBB, I see not just a political party but a platform where I can truly make a difference for the people and the state.
“As the Romans put it, “audaces fortuna iuvat”: fortune favours the bold.
“So, it’s not about where I can ‘do better’ for myself, but where I can do more for others. And that, I believe, is what truly matters,” he added.
To him, turning 36 this year feels like more than just another birthday; it marks a moment of reflection and renewal.
“Coincidentally, it is also the Year of the Snake, my birth sign, and as nature teaches us, a snake sheds its skin not out of vanity, but out of necessity for growth.
“As the old English proverb goes, change is the only constant in life, and I believe this is the most fitting time to embrace transformation.
“Or as the Romans wisely put it, “tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis”, times change, and we change with them.
“This is not merely about a personal shift, but about stepping into a role where I can contribute more meaningfully to the people I serve”, he stated.
Known for his fiery speeches during the 2016 state election campaign, the 36-year-old’s departure from DAP follows a three-year break from politics after his defeat in 2021.
He has since submitted a formal application to join PBB, which is led by Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Aziz said he joined DAP in August 2013 with youthful idealism, believing that socialism was a key issue affecting the country’s political, economic, and social landscape.
However, after contesting in two state elections and spending the past four years in the corporate sector, he realized that solutions lie not in abstract ideologies but in practical governance.
He claimed that his experience in the corporate world exposed him to the realities of foreign investments, trade, and financial technology, which he identified as the real drivers of progress.
“The more I examined the policies of successful economies, the more I understood that conservatism, rather than socialism, brings the stability and prosperity Sarawak needs,” he added.
Upon returning to Kuching, Aziz said he was amazed by the transformation taking place under Abang Johari’s leadership, including bold infrastructure projects, digital economy initiatives, and a clear vision for Sarawak’s future.
“It was a stark contrast to the rhetoric I once believed in, and I asked myself, ‘Why oppose success?’” he said.
Aziz was a former aide to Sarawak DAP Chairman Chong Chieng Jen and he stated that PBB is the only party aligned with “regionalist conservatism,” advocating for Sarawak’s autonomy without excessive federal influence.
He described DAP as a globalist socialist party that often fails to address Sarawakians’ unique aspirations.
In the 2016 Batu Kitang state election, Aziz was defeated by Sarawak United People’s Party’s (SUPP) Lo Khere Chiang, who won with a 1,840-vote majority.
He faced Lo again in 2021 but lost by an even larger margin of 4,163 votes.
By Connie Chieng