‘Cerai manis’ from Barisan was ‘best decision’, says GPS sec-gen

MIRI – The decision to split from Barisan Nasional and form the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition after the 2018 general election has placed the party in a stronger position to fight for the state’s rights, said GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Nanta said by getting Sarawak out of BN, the GPS is free to speak up and reclaim its rights, particularly what is enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Inter-Governmental Committee Report, and Cobbold Commission report.

“The divorce from BN was sweet and amicable. We in GPS can fight for more rights in the context of the Malaysia Agreement now.

“Divorcing BN has turned out to be the best decision. The people must support GPS in the coming general elections,” he said when officiating the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Tebedu triennial general meeting yesterday.

Nanta is among the GPS leaders who are going around drumming up political support from the parties and the community, including in the kampungs during their ongoing Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities – a sign that the 15th general election may be near.

GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg had said at a Raya gathering in Gedong district over the weekend that GPS will not give way to peninsula-based parties to contest in the next general election. This includes parties that GPS has friendly relations with.

“We have made it clear that we will field candidates in all the 31 parliamentary constituencies in this state in the coming 15th general election.

“We in GPS don’t need to get candidates from any other party.

“We need the people to vote for a total victory for us in this coming general election,” said Abang Johari.

In last year’s state election, Umno and Perikatan Nasional parties, like Bersatu and PAS, were not given any seats to contest.

GPS fielded candidates in all 82 state constituencies even though the coalition is a partner of Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional.

GPS, consisting of Abang Johari’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and the Progressive Democratic Party, has been seen as a kingmaker in federal politics. – The Vibes, May 9, 2022