KUCHING, Jan 8: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the state’s ruling coalition, is expected to be officially launched on Jan 19 with an array of activities lined up to celebrate the occasion.
GPS, comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), will unveil its logo at PBB headquarters tomorrow (Jan 9) by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Following the logo launch, GPS Youth armada will embark on a flag rally (road tour) across Sarawak, beginning Friday (Jan 11) till Jan 18, starting from the state’s northern tip of Lawas all the way to the state capital, making stops at each of the state divisions.
The rally, also covering Limbang, is scheduled to spend the night in Miri at the end of the first day, before heading to Bintulu and Mukah on the second day. Day three (Jan 13) will see the rally heading to Selangau and Sibu, followed by a trip to Kanowit and Kapit the following day.
Day five will see the tour leave Kapit to Sarikei, before spending the night in Betong. On the sixth day, the rally will visit Sri Aman, Balai Ringin, Serian and returning to Kuching. The programme at every stop involved a meeting and gathering with the respective GPS branch committee members including the Women’s and Youth wing.
On Thursday, Jan 17, the seventh day flag rally will start with a gathering and meeting in Siburan, before the tour heads to Bau, Lundu and Batu Kawah as the last stop. The eighth and final day rally is scheduled to cover Sadong Jaya and Samarahan, where a gathering will take place at the Samarahan Civic Centre.
On Saturday evening, Jan 19, thousands of members from GPS coalition partners are expected to participate in its official launching at Stadium Perpaduan, Petra Jaya, here.
“There will be a symbolic presentation of the logo to the Youth and flag-off ceremony before they embark on the rally across the state.
“Programmes and activities are similar to the road tour usually held before the general or state elections, where the Youth armada will make stops in all divisions,” a PBB party source said when met today.
He expected hundreds of coalition party members to turn up for the official logo launch, while thousands more from across the state could participate in the rally at various stages throughout the eight days.
“The highlight, of course, is the official launching of GPS as a proper political entity at Stadium Perpaduan. With this launch, we can further strengthen our cause and move forward together to fight for the rights of Sarawak and her people,” the source continued.
On Jan 26, the programme continues with the launching of GPS Zone 1 (Kuching division) at Penview Convention Centre at Demak. Abang Johari is also expected to grace the event.
Other zones will be launched at a later date, he said.
Meanwhile, PBB information chief Datuk Idris Buang deemed the decision by the four Sarawak-based governing parties to leave the Barisan Nasional coalition and set up GPS as the right move.
The Muara Tuang assemblyman was reported as saying recently that the decision marked a new dawn for politics in Sarawak. GPS could “unleash” its best potential to serve the state without being unnecessarily controlled by Putrajaya.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the approval of GPS application by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) in his winding-up speech for Budget 2019 in the Dewan Rakyat last November.
Muhyiddin was responding to PBB lawmaker and Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, who asked about the application status of GPS.
Abang Johari announced the formation of GPS after chairing a meeting with leaders of the four political member parties on June 12 last year — the same day the four parties announced their withdrawal from the Barisan Nasional coalition. — DayakDaily
