Election matters to be discussed during PM visit to Sarawak: Masing

Tan Sri James Masing

By Peter Sibon

KUCHING, July 16: Election matters will be among the top issues that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will bring for discussion with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his upcoming visit to Sarawak.

In stating this, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing stressed that the timing of the election would be one of the issues which would be discussed during the prime minister’s visit.

“Certainly election will one of the issues we will discuss with him. But the call is his, insofar as the federal government is concerned. But for the state election is (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi) Abang Jo’s call,” Masing told DayakDaily at his office here today.

However, Masing reiterated that since the Sarawak state election is almost due, it would be apt if the prime minister could also call for a snap general election to settle the current political instability in the country.

“So I would suggest that when we call ours, Muhyiddin will call his. So that will settle things once and for all and so that we will come back to normalcy.

“Let the people of Malaysia decide who should be the prime minister. If they want Muhyiddin, this is the best time or if they want somebody else this is also the best time for them to decide so that there will be no more quarrelling.

“So, after that we can have five years of peace and build the nation,” he said.

The deputy chief minister reiterated that once the new prime minister has the necessary mandate, he would then be able to focus on his strategies and development plan for the country.

“So, he will have five years to plan and everything will be stable especially now when we are facing Covid-19. We need stability in politics regardless of whoever leads us to tackle this massive global pandemic,” he stressed.

Masing also said that GPS’ machinery is ready to face the next state election as a registered pollical entity.

“You must understand, our election time is now, theirs is not yet. I wish they will follow us when we call for ours he will call for his. But the question is, they have to make sure that they are structurally ready because at the moment PN (Perikatan Nasional) is not a legal entity. It’s just a registered coalition.

“There must be a vehicle to be used. BN (Barisan Nasional) and Pas to be part of PN.

“For us GPS is different, so it will be PN Plus,” added Masing.—DayakDaily.