KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) should work with any local-based party in Sabah which has clear goals to push the Borneo Agenda forward, said Dr Arnold Puyok.
Taking Warisan as an example, the political analyst stated that if any formal pact were to be sealed between them, GPS should ask Warisan what they can offer to further push the Borneo Agenda.
“This is because thus far, GPS has been relatively successful in implementing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) compared to its counterparts in Sabah,” he said when contacted by the New Sarawak Tribune.
In this context he felt GPS should work closely with any local based party in Sabah that has a strong and healthy working relationship with the federal government.
“Another avenue is through a Borneo caucus in parliament which should be multi-partisan in nature.
“Here, GPS, Warisan and other like-minded local-based parties can work together in championing the Borneo cause,” he said.
Concurring, political observer Datuk Peter Minos pointed out that as Sabah and Sarawak are in the same boat it is logical that both states must fight for their rights and fair share in all things.
“It is a nice thought that a party in Sabah is thinking of working with Sarawak to face Malaya. Good thinking from Warisan,” he said.
However, since Sabah is woefully divided politically and the state is controlled by Malaya-based parties (Umno and Bersatu), he said it will not be easy to ‘talk’ with Malayans when two Malaya-based political parties dominate the state.
“Unlike here, GPS has a big say in Sarawak. Warisan on the other hand, does not have as much as it wants to.
“For that, I hope that one day, there will be a GPS-type party in Sabah. Taking GPS for an example, it is very clear with its ‘Sarawak First’ policy and it also has a free hand to speak up for Sarawak especially on MA63 as well as getting more funds from the federal government,” he said.
Recently, Warisan vice-president Junz Wong urged Sabahans to vote for Warisan, saying the party would be the only Sabah-based national party contesting in the coming general election (GE15).
“Sabah cannot afford to be left behind by underdevelopment and unfair treatment from the peninsula any more.
“Together with the strong Sarawak bloc, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Warisan can voice out and regain the rights of Sabahans and Sarawakians,” he said in a statement.
