KUCHING: The formation of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is timely and appropriate in line with the changing aspirations, needs and demands of Sarawakians.
It is also in sync with the change in the federal government which had ruled the country for 55 years and the need for a stronger state government to fight for and protect the state’s rights in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the decision by all four former components of the state Barisan Nasional (BN) – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) – to form GPS came at the most opportune time.
“Based on our past experience of being in a federal coalition, forming a state-based coalition like GPS, which is not directly linked to the federal coalition, empowers the state government to serve the people better,” he said in an exclusive interview with the New Sarawak Tribune.
• Excerpts of interview on page 36 of special pullout on GPS
Looking back, a federal coalition had unfairly disadvantaged Sarawak, he said.
He noted that over the years of being in a federal coalition, Sarawak saw several of its special rights eroded contrary to the spirit of consensus, either knowingly or unknowingly.
“So when the federal government changed, we thought it was the right time for us to leave (BN) and regroup ourselves as a state-based coalition under GPS in the best interest of the people and the state,” he added.
He said GPS would stand firm by its ‘Sarawak First’ policy, giving due priority to Sarawak and the future of Sarawakians.
Top of the list would be the fight to reclaim Sarawak rights in accordance with the MA63 and the Federal Constitution, he added.
Johari is confident that once the people get to know GPS and its struggles better, they will back the coalition all the way.
On ties with Putrajaya, he said for now, Sarawak has a good relationship with federal leaders.
“In the last seven months or so, the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government has been sending several ministers to Sarawak to discuss various matters including rural development, agriculture, commodity, human resource and medical.
“There are engagements between federal and state governments and this must go on,” he said.
More stories on pages 2 and 4 Pictorial on pages 9 ( New Sarawak Tribune paper )
