KUCHING: The GPS-led state government has to cooperate and strike a compromise with the federal government, especially on matters that are of mutual benefits.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (pic) said GPS had to accept the fact that Pakatan Harapan (PH) was now the federal government.
“We cannot be too harsh and we cannot be confrontational all the time,” he said in an interview with the New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
“The euphoria of PH winning the 14th General Election is over and slowly fading. Now it’s time for everyone to move forward. We have to co-operate and wherever necessary, compromise,” he added.
He, however, pointed out that matters, such as those stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including immigration, were non-negotiable.
On the same note, Karim, who is also Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, revealed that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is scheduled to attend the second meeting of MA63 Steering Committee, chaired by Prime Minister TunDr Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 3.
The first meeting, chaired by Dr Mahathir, also in Kuala Lumpur, was on Dec 17.
Karim expressed confidence that GPS would be well received by the people of Sarawak, especially those in the rural areas.
He did not deny that it would be an uphill task explaining to the people on why the state decided to quit Barisan Nasional (BN) and opted to form GPS as most rural voters were quite attached to BN.
Nevertheless, he felt that with the right branding and reasoning, the coalition would be able to win them over.
