KUCHING, Nov 21: Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah believes the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition will enjoy a landslide victory in the coming 12th Sarawak Election (PRN12) following the success of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in winning the Melaka state election yesterday.
She opined that the Melaka election results which saw BN winning a two-third majority could be a foreshadowing for PRN12.
“It is indeed an indicator for the upcoming Sarawak State Elections. GPS will win handsomely.
“PH (Pakatan Harapan), PN (Perikatan Nasional), any Semenanjung-based party will not be able to make inroad .Umno (United Malays National Organisation), MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress), MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) have never contested in Sarawak.
“That unwritten understanding has been respected until now even.
“But, if other Semenanjung-based parties like PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat), DAP (Democratic Action Party) still want to contest against GPS, GPS will put up a fight,” she said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, BN won 21 seats out of the 28 seats contested in the Melaka state election yesterday while PH won five seats and PN won two seats.
Apart from that, Fatimah said GPS under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has a good track record of fulfilling its promises while PH did not honour its promises.
Fatimah also said Sarawak’s financial standing is strong thanks to the revenue engineering implemented by Abang Johari.
She highlighted the Sarawak government has received more revenue through the State Sales Tax (SST) on oil and gas from Petroliam Nasional Berhad from 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Fatimah asserted that the revenue has been used for development projects for the people which include building roads and bridges for connectivity, opening up rural areas and providing basis necessities like water and electricity in remote areas.
She pointed out welfare initiatives initiated by the chief minister such as Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), Maternity Aid (BIB), Special Annual Grant (GTK), Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) Assistance for Kidney patients and Death Compassionate Assistance (BIK) have been rolled out and will continue for the social wellbeing of the people if GPS is given the mandate.
As for PRN12, Fatimah, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women’s chief said the party will comply with standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the Election Commission (EC) and the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) for the prevention of Covid-19.
She also hoped politicians will campaign in a mature and professional manner. — DayakDaily
