KUCHING, June 26: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is unperturbed by the statement of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) is planning to spread its wings to Sarawak.
Responding to Dr Mahathir’s statement made earlier last night, Abang Johari said that it was up to Dr Mahathir and his party as Sarawak was only concerned over its own parties especially the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.
“If PPBM wants to spread its wings here, it is up to his (Dr Mahathir) party’s decision. Because we also have our own Sarawakian parties.
“However in terms of Sarawak, we will work together in the context of Sarawakian parties,” he told reporters after concluding his visit to Tanjong Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu at her Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on Monday night at Santubong.
Asked if the arrival of PPBM in Sarawak would segregate the Malay communities in the state, Abang Johari said to wait and see first.
“We wait. We also don’t know much, no details at the moment. Maybe there’s a mistake or what we don’t know,” he said.
Earlier last night, Dr Mahathir after chairing the party’s supreme council meeting at its headquarters in Petaling Jaya, announced that PPBM plans to make its presence felt in Sarawak, a move that could strain ties with local parties already weary of and resistant to peninsula interference.
“Since other Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties like PKR, Amanah are already there we felt we should also be there,” he told a press conference there.
Acknowledging that the move may not sit well with some of the mainstay Sarawak parties, Dr Mahathir said an alliance with GPS was not necessary.
“They don’t have to join us if they don’t want to.
“But since Pakatan Harapan component parties are also there then we feel that we should also be there,” he said. — DayakDaily
