By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 28: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) elected representatives must maintain clear boundaries between official responsibilities, inter-state engagements, and electoral activities, particularly during sensitive periods such as the ongoing Sabah state elections.
Reaffirming his full support for GPS’s official stance of non-interference in Sabah’s electoral process, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said this discipline is vital in upholding the coalition’s guiding principle of “Four for One, One for Four.”
“This discipline is essential to preserving public trust and ensuring that GPS continues to be seen as a coalition that practices responsible, transparent, and mature governance,” he told a press conference at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex Media Room today.
Yap noted that Sabah, like Sarawak, is a partner within the Federation of Malaysia and fully entitled to conduct its own democratic processes without external involvement.
Emphasising the coalition’s “Sarawak First” philosophy, the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) lawmaker said all GPS representatives must remain focused on serving the people of Sarawak and supporting policies led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“Sarawak is progressing because of our unity, and it is this unity that enables us to achieve stability, growth, and development for all Sarawakians,” he added.
“’Four for one, and one for Four’ must be our rallying call and we must show our words through action,” he stressed, cautioning that any breach of discipline or involvement in inter-state electoral matters could undermine public trust and the coalition’s credibility.
“As an elected GPS representative from SUPP, I will always work together with our GPS partners to strengthen Sarawak’s unity, uphold our rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and ensure that our focus remains on ‘Sarawak First’ and delivering results for the people of Sarawak,” he said.
Yap’s remarks came after youth wings of GPS component parties, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Sarawak, SUPP, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), issued statements reiterating the coalition’s neutral stance and non-interference in the Sabah elections.
The response followed circulating photos and comments regarding Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture (MOTAC) Dato Sri Tiong King Sing’s activities, which had sparked speculation that GPS leaders were taking part in the 2025 Sabah State Election.
Tiong, who is also PDP president, a component of GPS, was recently seen attending programmes linked to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Sabah, including one where he met an Iban community renowned for its cultural traditions and natural surroundings.
However, on Nov 26, Tiong clarified that he had not breached GPS directives and that his visit to Tawau was purely in his capacity as a minister, having been invited by NGOs to attend tourism-related events. — DayakDaily
