SONG: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi today revealed that he was quite jittery about the people’s acceptance towards GPS and its Kenyalang (hornbill) symbol when the coalition contested for the first time in last year’s 12th state election.
He said to his relief, the symbol is now the preferred political symbol in the state especially in most rural areas as GPS went on to win 76 out of the 82 seats up for grabs in the election besides sweeping the Katibas, Pelagus, Bukit Goram and Balleh seats in the Kapit Division.
“Thus, the decision by our Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to form GPS is right and overwhelmingly supported by Sarawakians,” he said at a meet-the-people session at Rh Jarup in Sungai Sempadi in the Katibas state constituency near here.
At the event which was also attended by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Nanta said that he was confident that GPS could still fare well in the 15th general election (GE15) where he is defending the Kapit parliamentary seat.
“The feel good feeling among the people for GPS is still there. The rakyat (people) have pledged to support GPS,” he said, adding that GPS is strong now but the people can make it even stronger by electing more members of Parliament from the coalition.
Nanta said he was confident of retaining the Kapit seat which he had occupied for five terms since 1999 as his challengers were relying on mere lies and accusations to unseat him.
In calling the people to reject them, he said they had no concrete plans, strategy and the funds to implement any effective development.
He said if GPS won convincingly and was asked to help form the federal government, it would press for more ministerial posts.
Meanwhile, Nanta, who was Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs before the dissolution of the Parliament, denied accusations that he had done little to prevent the increase in prices of food and other necessities, saying many of the accusations were mere exaggerations.
“In 2020, the ministry was given a budget of RM150 million for subsidies. In 2021, I managed to increase it to RM200 million,” he pointed out. – BERNAMA
