KUCHING: Delegates to the first Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) convention held yesterday at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) regarded the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s speech as very transparent and sincere in wanting to bring Sarawak forward.
The chief minister, in his speech, touched on several important issues regarding the state’s development plans, autonomy and rights as well as political future with the GPS government.
With that, New Sarawak Tribune had interviewed several party leaders and delegates for their views and comments.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Central Working Committee (CWC) and SUPP Kota Sentosa branch chairman Wilfred Yap pointed out that the chief minister spoke on the nine thrust/pillars which could bring the state to greater heights.
“We can see that the chief minister is very sincere in the sense that only Sarawak-based political parties, in this case GPS, will be able to bring Sarawak forward,” he said.
He added, “The chief minister already has a plan, which is slowly taking shape and stated it clearly unlike the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government ‘yang hanya tinggal harapan (all that remains is hope)’.”
Yap also noted that the chief minister wanted Sarawakians to be committed and focus as only Sarawakians can determine the state’s future.
He also said that the chief minister had given his assurance that the state would not go bankrupt as alleged by certain Malayan leaders.
“When GPS make those programmes, we already have the income to be used and that we are going to generate enough revenues to ensure that all these development programme succeed,” added Yap.
Meanwhile, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu said the chief minister had urged the people of Sarawak to support GPS if they want to see Sarawak prosper.
“What the chief minister and the GPS government have planned is for the state’s prosperity and its people, thus it needs the full support of all Sarawakians,” said PBB and GPS executive secretary Datuk Awang Bujang Awang Antek.
He added that the chief minister was also concerned about the bridge projects approved by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
“All these projects were cancelled by the PH government but the chief minister insisted that the projects must go on because his main thrust was to provide proper road networking for the benefit of the state and its people,” he said.
On the convention, PBB deputy youth chief Miro Simuh, who is also Serumbu state assemblyman, said the response was overwhelming and would surely strengthen the unity among component parties.
He also urged those delegates to disseminate the information received from the convention to grassroots members so they could understand better about GPS’ struggles and the state government’s development plans for the state and its people.
