By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, July 2: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) presidents have given their assurance to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition that they would not contest in Sarawak come PRN12.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing disclosed this after party presidents and leaders of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition parties had met Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for a two-hour meeting yesterday.
“This assurance not only clears the way for GPS to fight the opposition head on, but it is a good sign that PN component parties respect and honour its commitment to assist Sarawak GPS when PRN12 is called,” said Masing in a statement today.
He added that the GPS coalition is ready to battle it out with the opposition parties in the upcoming 12th state election (PRN12) which may be held soon.
“He (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) told the meeting (with party presidents of the PN coalition) that PRN12 for Sarawak is just round the corner.
“GPS is ready. The four component parties are readying themselves to fight the opposition such as Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and others.”
Masing, who is deputy chief minister, added that the party presidents of PN had agreed to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to lead the 15th general election (GE15) if the prime minister decided to call for a snap poll.
He said Muhyiddin and other party leaders were confident of winning GE15, once technical matters within PN were resolved.
“From my observation the ‘history’ and personalities involved in the political parties from Peninsular Malaysia, especially between Bersatu and United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and the various political component parties which form PN coalition in Sabah, it seems, are on the way for a healthy political coalition to emerge.
“However, I (am) confident that these technical details among PN coalition will be solved,” he added.
Masing opined the common factor which glues the parties in PN together was their common objection for DAP to be part of the coalition.
Masing who is Baleh assemblyman said in spite of PN being a loose coalition of 12 political parties, all heads of political parties agreed for Muhyiddin to lead the charge when GE15 is called.
Currently, cohesion within the Pakatan Harapan coalition appears to be disrupted by a dispute between former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, on who should be the prime minister if PH should win GE15.
They included Abang Johari who is GPS chairman and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, Masing, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hadi, Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president Tan Sri S Vigneswaran, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkilli, Star Sabah president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, PN Chief Whip Datuk Seri Mohd Azmin Ali and Bersatu secretary general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin. —DayakDaily
