Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has called on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to consider giving the Rural Development Ministry to Sabah or Sarawak.
Coalition secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi (above) said helming the ministry will be more meaningful to parties from the Borneo states.
He was responding to a request made by Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and GPS allies - Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) - that a deputy prime minister should be picked from among Sarawak or Sabah MPs.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), in particular, told Ismail Sabri's administration to create a new second deputy prime minister (DPM II) post to be filled by a Sarawakian MP from GPS.
"This (the deputy prime minister post) has never been an official demand or request from GPS. They were opinions expressed by some leaders that reflect the sentiment in Sarawak," said Alexander, who was the deputy regional and rural development minister between May 2013 and May 2018.
"Of course, a deputy prime minister post (for us) will be historical. But what is important is for the relevant ministries that can actually help us, for instance, the Rural Development Ministry to be given to us," said the Kapit MP.
"It is more appropriate and meaningful to us, so we have a better say and we may need to fast track (the process of the rural development plan).
"We need a relevant ministry that can have a direct impact on our rural areas," said the Kapit MP.
The ministry was traditionally helmed by Malay parties, particularly Umno, to garner the support of the rural Malay heartland.
During Muhyiddin Yassin's administration, it was spearheaded by Bersatu's Abd Latiff Ahmad and assisted by Umno's Abdul Rahman Mohamad and GPS' Henry Sum Agong. - Mkini
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