BAU: The peninsula-based parties will be dependent on Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to form a new Federal government after the 15th general election (GE15).
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said GPS is an independent entity and is not tied to any political parties in the peninsula including UMNO.
“There was a banner from the opposition stating ‘GPS menang, Zahid senang’, it should be Abang Jo ‘senang’, right? This is because we have nothing to do with them.
“The Peninsula parties actually depend on us. Although Sarawak only has 31 seats but with the current situation there, they really need our support to form a new government,” he said.
Abang Johari who is also the GPS chairman reiterated that any party that wants to cooperate with GPS must know what needs to be done for this state.
“If they don’t support Sarawak’s request, then they have to understand themselves on what we will do,” he said.
He was speaking at a Sarawakku Sayang 2022 programme at Siniawan near here on Thursday.
The Premier said, currently, there were several political coalitions in the peninsula that wanted to cooperate with GPS because they want to form the federal government after GE15 later.
“Now everyone wants to ‘fall in love’ and build relationship with GPS. That party wants us, this party wants us, we are like beautiful women,” he added.
Therefore, he stressed that GPS must be a strong party that can determine the future of Malaysia so that all the demands of the state can be obtained in order to develop Sarawak.
“GPS must win all contested seats. When we have 31 seats, then Sarawak will have the representation and strong voices in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
He added with the strong representation, Sarawak can continue to demand matters under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.
“This includes recognising the Public Works Department (JKR), the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) as technical entities to implement federal projects in Sarawak.
“And this also includes the Head of State to have the power to appoint judicial commissioners. All these things must be given to Sarawak because we have the rights, and they must continue to be defended. GPS will not compromise in this matter,” he stressed.
