by NOOR SYAHHIRA HADY, SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: State leaders in Sarawak are all on board with the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) 15th general election (GE15) manifesto.
The said manifesto was launched on Sunday evening (Nov 6) by GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
With the theme ‘Ensuring Sarawak’s Stability, Progress, and Prosperity’, he stated that the manifesto outlined five main pillars, 25 thrusts and 215 commitments.
He asserted that the manifesto is comprehensive, inclusive, people-centric, and prioritises the future of the country.
“All levels and groups of the society are given attention in the manifesto including the B40, M40, youth, students, women, children, OKU (disabled), elderly, civil servants and those in the rural and urban areas,” he said.
As such, the New Sarawak Tribune had met with the state leaders here to share their views on the manifesto.
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DATUK SHARIFAH HASIDAH SAYEED AMAN GHAZALI
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations)
“The manifesto launched by our Premier is very comprehensive and inclusive. It covers all levels of society in Sarawak from community to infrastructure development. In this manifesto, it also emphasises on the government’s effort to continue to fight for the rights of Sarawakians.
“This manifesto is a promise to be carried out by the Sarawak government. And this has been proven, what GPS has planned and promised, it will be implemented.
“We can see that the GPS has done many things and many of the state’s eroded rights are returned to the state. We can also see that the state’s revenue is increasing and we will be receiving an income of nearly RM11 billion this year.”
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DATUK SIM KIANG CHIOK
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chief
“This is the first time GPS, which is not part of any political party from West Malaysia, came out with its own manifesto for the parliamentary election. This means that GPS is free to dictate what it wants and I believe in this manifesto, it reflects what Sarawakians want.
“What Sarawkaians want is for Sarawak rights to be restored as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The other thing is Sarawakians want continual peace and unity in the state. In Sarawak we have UNIFOR, and this shows that the state government is sincere in caring for other religions in the state and people are free to practice their respective faiths.
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DATUK SEBASTIAN TING CHIEW YEW
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts
“This manifesto is excellent and wonderful for Sarawak and the people of Sarawak as it is very comprehensive. Moreover, it has so many areas being covered from what has been done and what we are going to do to make sure that Sarawak will be a developed state by 2030.
“What’s important is that the rights as contained in MA63 and Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report 1962 are now in the constitution which means what belongs to us, we must get it back.
“Sarawak must always come first in our mind for Sarawakians. Nobody will look after us except ourselves. We cannot depend on other people to look after Sarawak’s interests, and its people.”
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DATUK SERI ABDUL KARIM RAHMAN HAMZAH
Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development
“The manifesto is very comprehensive as it outlines the struggle, vision of GPS – why it was formed. I think all Sarawakians should read through and only then will they be able to understand what GPS struggle is for. I believe after reading it, they will be able to appreciate what GPS is fighting for.”
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KHO TECK WAN
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) women chief
“The manifesto encompasses a lot including women’s involvement. Furthermore, we are marching to the new technology because it’s talking about data, analytics, renewable and sustainable which basically include the environment and women which shows that we are marching and moving forward.
“When you talk about green hydrogen and all these kinds of stuff, we are actually going to be ahead of almost every other state in Malaysia and this is exciting for me as I look at Sarawak moving forward as an individual state. It is very powerful.
“Hopefully this can convince Sarawakians to support us and have faith in us to deliver the aku janji. For me, I really see this manifesto as a really good material for our talks and I will use it as part of our campaign.”
