KUCHING: The formation of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is a new era in the politics of Sarawak.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said that a new era means that Sarawak can decide its own future without having to be tied down by other parties.
“Last time we were part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and being tied down by them. That was the BN era; today we have GPS era,” he said during Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) grand launch at Stadium Perpaduan last night.
He said that Sarawak being one of the countries that formed Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) joined the BN. During that journey there were ups and down and Sarawak became mature enough to finally leave.
“Today, under GPS, we are going to lead Sarawak the Sarawakian way and most importantly to continue fighting and safeguarding Sarawak rights,” he said.
“We are now a partner to Malaya. We still can work with them in the federal government as long as our rights are protected.”
He then recalled that it was the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem who first talked about Sarawak’s eroded rights. Unfortunately Tok Nan was gone too soon.
“We have the laws enshrined in the agreement, and we are going to use that as our strength to regain our rights especially over oil and gas,” he said.
