KUCHING: It is absurd for anyone to suggest that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) should now join Pakatan Harapan (PH) to pass a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Satok branch.
“After all, what has PH done for Sarawak for the past 20 months of their rule? They in fact systematically targeted Sarawak in all aspects. We cannot trust them and leave the fate of our children in their hands,” said its vice-chairman Shankar Ram, who is a lawyer by profession.
He was of the view that GPS ought to remain neutral and independent in this stand.
He said what the nation saw last week was the mechanics and operation of the Rule of Law where under Article 43(2)(a) of the Malaysian Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appointed the Prime Minister who, in the King’s judgement, commanded the confidence of the majority members of the House of Representatives.
“The appointment by His Majesty cannot be challenged in a court of law and Sarawak leaders respect that position. Bear in mind that Sarawak did not join any faction, but followed the due process of the Constitution to lend support to the Prime Minister for the sake of the whole nation,” said Shankar in a statement yesterday.
“Just imagine what will happen to the Malaysian economy if such political quandary or turmoil continues for months without a functioning Cabinet and Prime Minister,” he said.
He pointed out that of late, the ringgit had become weaker and the stock market had suffered a plunge with outflow of funds, adding that the country would not get foreign direct investments (FDIs) due to political instability.
He said that in the run up to the 14th general election (GE14), PH, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), and Democratic Action Party (DAP) made various promises which they had failed to fulfil ― thus causing the suffering of Sarawak and its people.
“At some point, they started the blame game and confused people further. What they failed to focus on is the ailing economy and the rise in costs of living. The constant political bickering made people fed up and the rakyat suffered,” said Shankar.
“The aftermath of GE14 brought about major changes in the political façade,” he said.
He said for Sarawak, its leaders under the stewardship of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg were wise to set up GPS and sought to remain neutral by not joining any of the political factions in Malaya.
“When Sarawak was part of Barisan Nasional (BN), the fall of BN at GE14 made Sarawak a target by PH and Sarawakians are not fools to allow this to happen again,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council member Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim claimed that DAP had gotten the facts and law wrong, referring to Sarawak DAP Women chief Irene Chang’s recent remark that GPS had ignored the people’s mandate and caused the fall of the PH government.
He said that GPS was part of the BN government when elected. “The voters of GPS are not PH supporters to start with. GPS is respecting the wishes of the people who vote for GPS,” he said.
