GPS to contest all seats at Sarawak polls, says Abang Jo

 GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg says parties from outside Sarawak should not 'interfere with the Sarawak family'.

GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg speaking at the coalition’s convention today in Kuching. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Sarawak’s ruling coalition GPS will field candidates for all state assembly seats at the next state elections but there was uncertainty whether 17 proposed new state seats would be included in time, GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg said today.

Abang Johari, speaking at the close of the GPS convention, said he does not know when the state assembly elections will be held. However, GPS would field candidates in all constituencies as “only the people of Sarawak truly understand our culture and our politics”.

“We do not want parties from outside Sarawak to disrupt Sarawak. We already have good cooperation (with national parties in the federal unity coalition); we are like family, but please do not interfere with the Sarawak family,” he said. “We are not being introverted; we take into account the interests of Malaysia as a whole. If Sarawak progresses, Malaysia progresses. If Sarawak’s economy is strong, Malaysia is strong,” he said.

He said the state government was uncertain whether the redelineation process for the proposed 17 new state seats could be completed in time for the elections.

The Sarawak state assembly had approved a motion last year to increase the number of seats from 82 to 99. The proposed new seats must be approved by Parliament after the Election Commission completes redrawing the seat boundaries.

Abang Johari, who is state premier, said the state government was awaiting updates from the EC on the status of the redelineation exercise. “If the process can be completed in time, then perhaps the election could be held with 99 seats. If not, it may still proceed with the existing 82 seats,” he added.

The state assembly’s term expires in February next year, unless dissolved earlier, and elections must be held within 60 days of dissolution or by April next year at the latest.

Abang Johari said GPS would contest all seats as “only the people of Sarawak truly understand our culture and our politics”.

He then recalled that when the late Abdul Taib Mahmud was chief minister, the Sarawak government told Umno that there was no need for the party to expand into the state, stressing that Sarawak prefers not to have external parties disrupt its political landscape.

“We maintain good relations and cooperation as partners, but this cooperation must be respected. Without Sarawak, the federal government may not have such stability. It is because of Sarawak that Malaysia remains stable,” said Abang Johari, who is also president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, the dominant partner in GPS.

In the current 82-member state assembly. GPS holds 79 seats comprising PBB (47), Sarawak United Peoples Party (13), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (11) and Progressive Democratic Party PDP (8), and has the support of an independent member. The opposition comprises DAP (2) representing Pakatan Harapan. - FMT