KUCHING, Aug 20: The GPS Backbenchers Club wants work on returning Sarawak’s rights as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to continue under the new Federal government led by ninth Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Its deputy chairperson Aidel Lariwoo, in congratulating the Bera Member of Parliament’s (MP) appointment as the new prime minister, has expressed confidence in the latter’s ability to lead the nation amidst these turbulent times.
“It is our hope that the new Federal government will be united and have the people’s best interests at heart.
“We hope that they will continue the work of the previous government in returning Sarawak’s rights as enshrined under the MA63, Federal Constitution and the Inter-Government Committee (IGC) Report 1962,” he said in a statement today.
The Club, Lariwoo added, also hopes that with Ismail Sabri’s leadership, the country will be able to combat the Covid-19 pandemic as well as facilitate the nation’s economic recovery.
At the same time, the Club also extended its full support to the decision made by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state coalition led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg which helped stabilise the political situation in the nation.
“We call on all Malaysians to give Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri the chance to form his Cabinet and lead the government and for other political parties to stop politicking and play their role in aiding Malaysia’s recovery from Covid-19,” he urged.
Meanwhile, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has today named Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri as the new Prime Minister.
Ismail Sabri will be taking his oath of office tomorrow (Aug 21) at 2.30pm at Istana Negara.
The appointment was consented by Agong in accordance with Article 40(2)(a) and Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, after a two-hour discussion with the Malay rulers at Istana Negara.
In the statement, the Palace confirmed that Ismail Sabri had the support of 114 MPs, which gave him the majority to form the government, adding that all 114 of them had confirmed their support.
These 114 MPs include members of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Umno — except for renegade MP Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah — as well as several smaller parties and independents. — DayakDaily
