By Goh Pei Pei & James Wong
KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has described the relationship between Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) as ‘husband and wife’.
The two parties, he said, had been in partnership since 1970; helping each other throughout the decades as well as experiencing all the ups and downs together.
“When PBB was in problem; SUPP was there to help; and when they had issues, we supported them.
“We are like “suami sama bini”… we are the “co family” and then we have “extended family members” like Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP),” he said.
Abang Johari, who Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman said the four component parties are able to move forward together due to common goals; which is to elevate the status of Sarawak.
“We want everyone to respect Sarawak,” he stressed.
He was speaking at the SUPP special convention in conjunction with 60 years of Sarawak’s independence held at the party headquarters here today (Sept 2).
He also said the four parties decided to quit Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak in 2018 and formed GPS, to continue to fight for Sarawak despite many were doubtful about the move.
“Some said that we would not be able to do well; others claimed that we would go bankrupt for managing Sarawak on our own – but we have proven that it was the right move. We didn’t go bankrupt, on the contrary, our revenue has increased,” he said.
“It’s not that we wanted to quit BN just because it lost (in the GE14) but we have been treated as a minority when we were part of them.
“It was so difficult for us to raise issues, not to mention fighting for more rights for Sarawak. So, we quit and formed GPS,” he said
GPS, he said, has built a shield to protect Sarawak and its people, regardless of races and religions.
Thus, he urged all the component parties to stay united and never backstab their friends in the coalition.
“What’s important is that we must continue to work together as one team.
“Never backstab our friends; we must be loyal to our friends… just like PBB and SUPP since 1970,” he added.
The next Sarawak state election, he said, is expected to be held in the next three years; thus, all the component parties must work hard.
GPS, he said, will contest all the 82 seats and will not negotiate with other parties or coalition.
He reiterated that the support for the unity federal government as GPS prioritises stability of the country.
“We don’t want the country to be in a mess, so we support the unity government – for the sake of the nation and the people. Of course they (federal) also need us too… otherwise, once we withdraw our support, they will collapse too,” he added.
On the performance of SUPP, Abang Johari said the party was gaining increasing support from the urban voters as well as from the rural areas, including the minority communities.
Thus, he congratulated the party for their hard work and the teamwork under its president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian; which helped to bring Sarawak forward.
Also present at were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president; Dr Sim and his party deputy presidents Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem and Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin; SUPP Women chief Kho Teck Wan; SUPP Youth chief Michael Tiang; Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Datuk Joseph Salang; Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) vice-president Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
