By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Jan 6: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) machinery is ready for the 12th state polls but its chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg remains coy on when the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) will be dissolved.
“We are ready anytime,” Abang Johari said in a special interview with the media in conjunction with his 3rd anniversary as chief minister at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
However, he said that his administration was in no hurry to hold the election anytime soon as the current DUN term will only expire in July next year.
“The term only expires in 2021. (So there is)… no need to rush,” he added.
In the last state election in 2016, the then state-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition won 72 out of 82 seats. The opposition won 10 seats, with seven seats won by Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the remaining three by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Heading to the next state polls due in 2021, the state ruling GPS coalition has 68 seats after four elected representatives from the then BN-friendly Parti Sarawak Bersatu (formerly United People’s Party or UPP) has decided to go solo as a full-fledged local opposition party to take on GPS.
On another note, Abang Johari said GPS, which consisted of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), will continue to groom young leaders to take over their respective party leaders in due time.
“Yes (besides PBB), our partners are doing the same because eventually we will become one,” he said.
Abang Johari pointed out that the way forward for GPS is to become one united party.
“It may take time but as it is, that’s our formula,” he said. — DayakDaily
