KUCHING, June 22: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) today emphasized that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) must be fair to all its members to enable it to govern the state fairly.
“It doesn’t matter how big a party is, but as a partner in GPS, PDP must be given a fair and equal status like the other three partners,” said a PDP spokesman to DayakDaily after the party’s Supreme Council meeting here today.
GPS comprises PDP, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
For starters, PDP wants its three ‘lost’ seats back for the next state election, which is due in 2021.
Currently, PDP only has three state seats: Tasik Biru, Meluan and Marudi. Its three “lost seats” are Bekenu, Batu Danau and Pakan.
Bekenu and Batu Danau were taken by PBB after the last state polls in 2016. Pakan is now with PBB too by virtue of its assemblyman, Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, joining PBB recently.
The spokesman said PDP also ought to have more representation in the state cabinet and the government in general.
“Currently, PDP has one assistant minister in the State Cabinet in the person of Datu Dr Penguang Manggil. There is a need to increase our representation in due time. So too with appointments of political secretaries to the Chief Minister,” he said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman urged all Sarawakians to stand united in the state’s quests for greater autonomy from the federal government as per Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He was thankful that Sarawakians were united in the Petronas vs Sarawak Government suit, in which the Federal Court ruled today that the national oil giant had no rights over oil and gas in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
