KUCHING, June 24: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg gave an assurance today that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would not be a Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) replica.
When met by reporters at Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Penview Convention Centre here, he assured that the new local alliance would be a totally new coalition.
“No, no. It is totally new. Just wait. Step by step,” Abang Johari replied asked whether GPS would be Sarawak BN 2.0.
When pressed if Sarawakians would be ready to receive the new coalition, he appealed for patience as time was needed to set up the party and for Sarawakians to know and accept it.
“It is set up for the state election,” he said
On its direction, he merely said GPS as a “global positioning system” would provide the direction for Sarawak.
“Let us focus first. We already have a technical committee. We will put in place all the necessary prerequisites for the formation of GPS, such as the logo and the committee.”
On the recent hot topic of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s invitation to him and his Sabah counterpart, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, for a meeting, Abang Johari said he would attend but declined to divulge what was on the agenda for the proposed gathering.
Among those who also visited Abdul Karim were Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang. — DayakDaily
