We are not stupid, Sarawak CM tells DAP after peace offer

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg says DAP had previously accused GPS of not being able to govern the state well and that it will go bankrupt in three years.

KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) appears to have snubbed DAP’s peace gestures to the state coalition, with Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg recalling past remarks by DAP leaders condemning the state government.

He said last year, one of its leaders, DAP’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, had come to Sarawak and announced that the state was going to go bankrupt in the next three years.

“We (GPS) are not stupid to support the party. We have to be careful because that party (DAP) had the intention of taking over Sarawak,” he said.

According to him, DAP had also accused GPS of not being able to govern the state well.

“When it was part of the federal government, a lot of projects in Sarawak were withdrawn.

“They thought that we could not continue with them (the projects).

“But GPS managed to take over all of the development projects withdrawn by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government,” he said during the launching of the GPS Belaga zone.

Earlier today, Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen had said his party was willing to make concessions and cooperate with GPS in the interest of the nation.

“Our country is at the crossroads and GPS must make a decision to choose between going along with the coalition of Umno-PAS or preserve the progressive coalition of PH.”

Chong claimed that Umno and PAS were a combination of “kleptocrats and religious bigots” who would destroy the whole country.

“Therefore, I appeal to GPS leaders to put aside all past political differences and work together with PH to save our country from going down the path of destruction,” he said.

Abang Johari said GPS will support any national coalition which agrees to pay the sales tax on petroleum products and fulfils the state’s rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“If you want Sarawak’s support, then pay the 5% sales tax and return all of our rights based on the MA63 agreement. This is our stand,”

The Sarawak government had taken legal action against Petronas for its failure to pay the sales tax, amounting to RM1.3 billion.

Abang Johari said two blocs had tried to get the party’s support amid the political turmoil in Putrajaya.

However, he said GPS refused to cooperate with leaders who had no political stand. “We Sarawakians are not like that,” he added.

However, he said the country is currently facing a political crisis and GPS leaders would offer their support in order to “save” the country.

“But I can assure you that whatever our decision is, it will be done based on national interests without sacrificing the state’s rights,” he said.

GPS is expected to hold a meeting in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow to finalise its position. - FMT