Change in Sarawak gov't possible, Dr M says at state Bersatu launch

A change in the Sarawak state government is possible, Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad said at the launch of the state party chapter tonight.

"God willing, when Sarawak has its state election, we can change the government," Mahathir said in Bintulu to loud applause.

"This is our hope, this is our struggle. As long as we hold on to our noble struggle, believe it, we will succeed.

"With the hope that Bersatu in Sarawak will be part of Pakatan Harapan, and in the election achieve success, I hereby launch Sarawak Bersatu," he added.

Sarawak's state election is held separately from the general election. The next Sarawak state election must be held by 2021 at the latest.

The ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition previously won big in the 2016 state election under the BN flag, picking up 72 out of 82 seats.

The landslide victory was attributed to a wave of support for then-chief minister the late Adenan Satem who was pushing for greater state autonomy from Putrajaya.

In his speech, Mahathir said Sarawak has come a long way since its independence, with a RM11.9 billion budget for next year.

However, he said, many Sarawakians have still been left out.

"Maybe Sarawak is too big, and the elected representative can't afford it, because when they see faraway places, even though they are elected, they don't visit their constituents," he said.

He also took a swipe at the solar panel scandal which former prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor is embroiled in.

"We can see some schools are in terrible condition. There was also a proposal by the previous federal government to provide schools with water, but the money was swindled," he said.

It was reported in early June that there were possible irregularities in the award of a contract for an RM2.5 billion solar hybrid power project for rural Sarawak schools following orders from a former senior leader of the country.

Rosmah and her former aide Rizal Mansor have been charged over the scandal, while former education minister Mahdzir Khalid is still being questioned.

'30,000 applications'

With the launch of the Sarawak chapter, Bersatu has a presence in every territory in the country, except Sabah.

Bersatu's predecessor Umno had plans to establish itself in Sarawak, but has stayed out of the state thus far.

Mahathir said the expansion to Sarawak was due to popular demand from Sarawakians.

Sarawak Bersatu coordinator Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said at least 30,000 people have applied to join the state chapter.

Besides Mahathir, also present at the launch were his wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir, and secretary-general Marzuki Yahya.

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen, Sarawak PKR vice-chief Ali Biju, and Sarawak Amanah chief Mohamad Fidzuan Zaidi were in attendance as well.- Mkini