By Mohd Naseer Salleh
GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS), a coalition that was formed by local parties — Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) has been known as kingmaker in relation to the rest of the country.
They have stepped up and been counted on two instances — the first during the political imbroglio of Feb 2020 when the Pakatan Harapan (PH) collapsed due to defections by its coalition party members.
The second time was during a political crisis in 2021 when the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government lost its majority after the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) withdrew its support for the then prime minister.
It was GPS that had the last say on who was able to form the federal government of the day. Its members were the ones depended upon to make up the numbers in Parliament.
In this general election, the first parliamentary polls for GPS, it is an opportunity for Sarawakians to put the state at the forefront of the nation’s policymaking initiatives and prioritise the state’s interests in making new laws to benefit the people and nation.
GPS in its mission to put Sarawak First, is setting its sights on the parliamentary seats in Sarawak to be represented by the state coalition and send a loud message to the lawmakers in Malaya that it is united in its resolve.
A louder voice in Parliament by Sarawakians who share the common goal of developing the state would allow state rights to be reclaimed easily as with the influence of the state in the federal government, Putrajaya would have little choice but to accede to the demands of the state.
A better representation would allow laws and policies that are drafted and passed to benefit Sarawak — in terms of its development, welfare and general wellbeing of its people.
There have been many successes by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government in reclaiming eroded rights — continuing the efforts of the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem in asserting Sarawak’s position in Malaysia.
Sarawak is a party to the formation of Malaysia along with Sabah, Singapore and Malaya and it needs to be accorded the privileges and rights to that of an equal partner.
GPS is fully aware of this and understands the aspirations of Sarawakians for a more progressive and concerted effort to see the return of these rights.
In the last term, the people have seen first-hand what GPS could do — they have fought valiantly to assert the state rights under Pakatan Harapan (PH) and when in power with its partnership in the federal government after PH, it made full use of its position and pushed for ground-breaking constitutional amendments for Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to be recognised.
With the recognition of the sacred document, it opened the door for the pursuit of more eroded rights within the framework of MA63, the Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC) 1962, the State Constitution and the Federal Constitution.
With GPS having the mandate of the people in GE15, it will ensure that Sarawak will be the recipient of more federal government allocations enabling the people to reap the benefits in terms of infrastructure development, welfare as well as other inclusive federal government policies.
It is no secret that development is close to the heart of Sarawakians and with the state represented in Parliament through GPS, it would allow the pursuit of a more concerted and integrated development agenda whereby transformation of Sarawak is assisted by the federal government.
While Sarawak remains in good hands with a development biased state government, the process of transformation can be expedited with assistance from Putrajaya.
At the same time, while we look to undertake transformation of the state, we must — at all costs — preserve, protect and defend the values that we hold dear, which is the tolerance and unity among the people.
This is the very identity of Sarawak and one that is embodied by the GPS
government and this must be maintained. The gutter politics of Malaya must not gain a foothold in Sarawak.
We must make sure of this. These are the very reasons that GPS must win big in GE15 and the people must make their voices heard to ensure a stable and prosperous Sarawak as we move towards Sarawak’s goal of becoming a developed state in 2030.
