Don’t rock the boat in democracy’s name, Karim tells Sarawak PKR

 

Sarawak state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said GPS will judge the top PH leadership based on their ‘actions, blessings and support’ for Sarawak PH’s electoral ambitions. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A senior Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader has warned Sarawak PKR against 

rocking the boat in the name of democracy

 after it announced plans to contest in the next state election.

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he will not object to PKR contesting the election and holding a roadshow across Sarawak next month ahead of the state polls.

However, the vice-president of GPS lynchpin Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu said Sarawak PKR should first ponder if its actions would create disharmony among Sarawakians.

Asked whether this development could affect GPS’s ties with PH at the federal level, Karim said this was a question that the top PH leaders should answer.

“If, in the name of democracy, the state PH must contest against GPS in the next election, let them be. But we will judge the top PH leadership based on their actions, blessings and support towards the state chapter.

“The unity government is set up on a foundation of trust. Let’s see who will breach that trust.

My humble advice to Sarawak PH is to support the existing GPS government and not to rock the boat in the name of democracy,

 Karim told FMT.

The state minister maintained that Malaysia was a democracy, and that GPS will not bar its federal allies from contesting in the next Sarawak election

He said GPS has been doing a good job in governing Sarawak, but is ready to allow voters to express their view by casting their ballot in the event of a challenge by the state PH chapter.

“Politics is about unifying the rakyat, bringing progress and development to the state and nation, good governance in administration, and building social, religious and racial harmony. I believe this is what the GPS government is doing now.

“If the local PH leaders in Sarawak feel that the Sarawak GPS government is not doing that, they are free to hold a political roadshow and convince Sarawakians that the existing state government needs to be changed.

The final decision rests on the rakyat and I believe Sarawakians will be sensible and analytical before they cast their votes in the next election,

 he said.

On Sunday, Sarawak PKR information chief Tay Wei Wei said the state chapter would contest every seat allocated by Sarawak PH during the last state election.

He also said Sarawak PKR will embark on a state-wide election roadshow from November and hold a membership drive to prepare for the next state polls and 

prove to Sarawakians that PKR and PH are serious about serving them

.

In the 2021 state election, Sarawak PKR failed to win a single seat in the state assembly despite fielding 28 candidates, 22 of whom lost their deposits.

Fellow PH component Amanah was also wiped out, while Sarawak DAP only managed to defend two of the seven seats it won in 2016. - FMT