KUCHING: Although the Sarawak government has been maintaining a very friendly relationship with Barisan National at the federal level, it is unnecessary for the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to be known as GPS-Barisan Nasional (BN).
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Azmi Hassan said GPS was happy and comfortable with the current situation and relationship with BN, hence, there was no need for them to make any changes.
He said BN was not interested to contest or spread its wing to Sarawak even after the four local parties – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) quit Sarawak BN and formed GPS.
“BN is very friendly with GPS even the latter opted to quit BN and vice versa. GPS has never considered the BN parties in Peninsular Malaysia as their political enemies. They are working together at federal level and supporting each other,” he told New Sarawak Tribune,
“So, it is wise to remain status quo; as such a relationship is good and beneficial to both West Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said.
He was commenting on the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor’s recent statement that the state government was now known as the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) – Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
Hajiji had agreed with a recent proposal by Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin that the Sabah government be known as the GRS-BN administration as it was formed following the victorious cooperation of the two coalitions in the 16th Sabah state election in September 2020.
He said although BN was a separate coalition and not in GRS, the current Sabah government comprises GRS and BN.
Prof Azmi said the situation in Sarawak was different from Sabah as BN did not contest in the state election and was unlikely to field any candidate for the general election as well.
“For the last five decades, BN parties, particularly Umno, have never expressed any intention to expand their influence to Sarawak as the locals, especially the Bumiputera voters are very familiar and supportive toward PBB.
“Any attempt for BN parties from West Malaysia to spread its wing to Sarawak is going to be ‘suicidal’, hence, it is better to leave it or maintain as what it is like now,” he added.
