KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will not make way for Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties in the upcoming Sarawak state elections, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Responding to a question from Khairy Jamaluddin on the Keluar Sekejap podcast which aired on Monday (July 22), Abang Johari said GPS has not changed its stand to contest in all seats.
“Yes (we will stick with our decision),” he said, adding that the collaboration with other parties in the federal government has no bearing in the state polls.
“Federal is federal, Sarawak is Sarawak,” he said. The Premier added that GPS is prepared to contest against PH parties when it comes to it, stressing that the collaboration does not exist at the state level.
At the same time, Abang Johari did not set a target for the number of seats that GPS is looking to win in the upcoming state election, saying, “we will see”.
When asked on the question whether he is worried that GPS is becoming too powerful, commanding 80 out 82 seats in the state legislature, the Premier disagreed, adding, “our component parties are very critical (in terms of check and balance)”.
On the redelineation, the GPS chairman said two factors must be taken into account where the representation in rural areas is not population-based while the opposite for urban areas.
“We will follow the Westminster style and we must consider these factors for the elected representatives,” he said.
On increasing the parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah in the federal Parliament, Abang Johari said it was necessary to provide a balance in the composition in Dewan Rakyat, particularly on constitutional amendments.
“The Federal Constitution can be amended with a two-thirds majority, if we (Sarawak and Sabah) do not have slightly more than one-third representation, Malaya can amend the constitution to their whims and fancies.
“Before this, we had (slightly more than one-third representation) with Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah, but when Singapore left Malaysia in 1965, the seats went to Malaya,” he said.
