BY NATASHA JEE and NOOR SYAHHIRA HADY
KUALA LUMPUR: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has expressed its gratitude to Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) for not fielding candidates in the upcoming Jepak state-by election.
GPS chairman and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg viewed this as an understanding that Sarawak can only be managed by Sarawakians.
“Today, I want to thank PH and PN for not placing their candidates. Those who nominated their candidates are just small parties.
“It is not to say that we (GPS) are strong. But at least there is an understanding that Sarawak can only be managed by Sarawakians themselves,” he said.
He said this during the townhall session in conjunction with the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2023 programme held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on today (Oct 21).
Abang Johari, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president expressed hope that Sarawak’s future will be bright.
“I also hope that Sarawakians will continue to defend the political system that is in Sarawak,” he said.
The Jepak by-election will see a three cornered fight between Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) Iskandar Turkee, Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s (PBK) Stevenson Joseph Sumbang and Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party’s (Aspirasi) candidate Chieng Lea Phing.
Polling will held on Nov 4.