KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is confident of facing the coming state polls, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said it does not matter if it was held within this year or the next as the coalition was very confident that it could triumph over the opposition.
He noted that it could also be seen that GPS leaders are very committed to carrying out their responsibilities for the state and its people.
“Of course, there are areas that we can improve on, but overall, I would say we have done quite a good job. The people are relatively happy and there are lots of projects down there,” he said during a press conference on DayakDaily’s D’Drift 2020 Flag-Off Ceremony at DayakDaily office here today.
He noted that the state government is also using its own money to develop the state over matters which are the responsibilities of the federal government, citing that some examples included schools, roads, hospitals and health clinics which were all under the federal government’s list.
“But then when you wait until kingdom come, these things are not coming. This is my fourth term and I’ve been barking about the dilapidated state of the schools and it’s not coming.
“I’ve been saying about the Pan Borneo Highway right from my first term. When I said we were 30 years behind in terms of road, nothing happened. So, I think since we have a little bit of extra in our coffers, we use that money,” he said presumably referring to the previous ruling governments.
He added that the state government’s initiative would be propelled further following the recognition of Sarawak’s entitlement to its oil and gas sales tax.
“We will easily get RM2 to RM3 billion a year which is huge and can be used for more development,” he said.
In the event of a snap general election, Abdul Karim said he would not be able to speculate on whether the state election would be held simultaneously with it.
Still, he said it would be a good move to hold the two elections together if Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were to call for a snap election during the time when the state was planning to call for an election as well.
“This is because we have got a very small window now with less than a year left in our term. If the federal government calls for an election in the next six or seven months, it might be good for the state government to jump onto the bandwagon and do it together because elections cost a lot of taxpayers’ money. It would also be good for the federal government.
“If there is no disturbance along the way, the mandate can be held by Muhyiddin right up to the end of this tenure which is in 2023 and Sarawak will have to do it by next year,” he added.
