KUCHING, Feb 29: Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Corporate Affairs and Sarawak Public Communications Unit) Abdullah Saidol hopes the country’s new prime minister will honour Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and fully understood the needs of Sarawakians.
This statement came hours after Yang di-Pertuan Agong named former interior minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister in a shock decision that sidelined old rivals Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The new prime minister should not repeat the disrespectful attitude of the previous administration (Pakatan Harapan).
“Sarawak special position as enshrined in MA63 as stipulated in the Federal Constitution must be observed and respected.
“I hope the new Prime Minister will act fairly and fully understood the needs of Sarawak people,” he emphasised in a press statement today.
Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Abdullah pointed out was ever willing to cooperate with the new federal administration on mutual interest so that the nation can move forward, stabilise the economy and immediately address the needs and welfare of the people.
However, he emphasised that the ‘support’ given was not tantamount to ‘joining’ the bandwagon.
Members in the GPS coalition, he said will unanimously support the decision of Sarawak’s top leaders.
“We fully understood and agree that for all intents and purposes, federal government must be stabilised but our spirit and pledge that Sarawak rights and interests must be protected and not an inch be compromised.
“All basic principles of why we exited Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and formed GPS remained the same,” he added.
He reiterated that GPS will continue to defend Sarawak rights and will never be dictated bluntly by the federal leaders that the coalition will support.
Muhyiddin, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president, was named by the King as the person who commands majority support among MPs.
He will be sworn in as the 8th prime minister at 10.30am on tomorrow at Istana Negara (March 1).— DayakDaily
