Equating a vote for GPS as a vote for PAS is “shallow-minded”: CM Pol-Sec

Charles Chad Nissom

KUCHING, Sept 2: To equate voting for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) as akin to voting for PAS is being shallow-minded, said a political secretary to the Chief Minister Charles Chad Nissom.

He said such a perception was to create fear along religious lines to portray “false evidence appears real”.

“Those who propagate this fear is taking politics along religious lines to gain mileage and purposely trying to put GPS at fault. That’s the real intention,” said Charles in a statement issued here today.

He asserted that such sentiment was created by some opposition to purposely create a perception tone that voting GPS is voting for PAS.

The matter surfaced after Pas’ Pasir Puteh MP for Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh spoke controversially in Parliament that the Bible had been distorted or manipulated.

Consequently, there has been uneasiness among Christian communities nationwide including the ACS (Association of Churches) in Sarawak who had asked the MP to retract his statement and issue an open apology.

Charles, who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth leader reiterated that GPS is not part of Perikatan Nasional (PN) while PAS is, along with Umno and Bersatu.

“At that material time, GPS was kingmaker. The stance that GPS took was to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be the Prime Minister to lead this country and stabilize the political situation which was in a quandary with loose leadership plus the pandemic threats.

“So, GPS did not enter any pact with PN. The collaboration was meant for the interest of the country’s fate and stability. The PN Plus was more a check and balance so as to protect Sarawak’s interest,” he said.

Similarly, Charles pointed out that in a family, one can be vocal while another plays with caution yet they have a common interest as they live under one roof.

“The 22-months previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government had been a flip-flop and as a result, major projects in Sarawak were being cancelled,” he said.

Additionally, he stressed that physically speaking, GPS and PAS are an ocean apart separated by the South China Sea, so too with their political ideologies.

“Our grassroots read this well. That’s why PAS failed here since the 1990’s. So neither shall we be in cohorts. And we don’t indulge in perception and falsehood. For that reason, we advised PN not to field a candidate against us in the coming State election,” added Charles.—DayakDaily