By Alexandra Lorna & Natasha Jee
KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) Members of Parliament (MPs) will be playing their part in assisting the respective candidates from the Unity Government in the upcoming six state elections in Peninsular Malaysia.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that as the state ruling party is part and parcel of the Unity Government, GPS also has a duty to give their support.
“We (GPS) have five full ministers and six deputy ministers, including one Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof in the federal government; hence, it is their duty to give support to the component parties in the Unity Government,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after chairing the GPS Presidential Council Meeting at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) tonight (July 15).
Abang Johari, who is also the GPS chairman, further said the party will send its representative during the nomination day.
“The issue in Peninsular Malaysia is that we really do not know what happens after that, but we want to emphasise that it is important for us to have a stable government,” he said.
When asked whether GPS will send its machinery to campaign during the state elections in Peninsular Malaysia, he said the party will not be doing so.
“As you know, we have MPs (from GPS), and this is our obligation as a component of the federal government to help during the state elections.
“We let them work on our behalf because we must also remember that we (the Sarawak government) are going to be occupied with the programmes held in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of Sarawak Independence.
“If we are too occupied with that side (Peninsular Malaysia), we will forget about our own celebration in Sarawak,” he said, stressing that the priority of GPS is putting Sarawak first.
To another question on whether an official invitation had been sent to the Premier himself to assist in the campaigning before the polls, Abang Johari responded, “I focus on Sarawak.
“As you know, if they (the federal government) want to advance, they have to have their own creative policy for the whole of Malaysia.
“But I can contribute my ideas, and I have given my ideas to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in order to strengthen the country’s economy.”
Earlier on July 2, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed hope that GPS would assist the party during the six state elections in Peninsular Malaysia.
Meanwhile, polling day for elections in the states of Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan will be held on Aug 12.
Among those present were Deputy Premier and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Premier and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Datuk Joseph Salang, and federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
