By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Feb 28: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Secretary General Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi says GPS MPs will meet on Sunday evening to discuss who to support as next prime minister.
He, however, was unable to confirm if any announcement would be made as he was now on his way to Sungai Asap to attend the launch of GPS at Belaga and Murum tomorrow which is expected to be graced by GPS president and chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“The Chief Minister is not the type that will make his own decision. He will consult other GPS component parties before making any major decision.
“So if Tan Sri (Dr James Jemut Masing (Parti Rakyat Sarawak’s president) were to say GPS would make its stance on March 1, it is most likely so,” Nanta told DayakDaily.
On which side GPS would most likely choose, Nanta said GPS had been very consistent from the onset and will continue to hold on to its principles while making a decision.
“For GPS, decision will be made based on the best wellbeing of the whole of Malaysia without compromising the interest of Sarawak,” said Nanta.
GPS consists of four parties namely Parti Perak Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
The New Straits Times had quoted Masing saying that GPS would make an announcement on who GPS will support in the super saga of “Who will be the next prime minister?” on March 1, Sunday.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has in the eleventh hour decided to be named Bersatu’s candidate for prime ministership.
Following that, United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas) in a joint statement threw their support behind Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin was also supported by ex-Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) faction headed by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali who were said to have joined Bersatu.
With additional 10 MPs led by Azmin joining Bersatu, the party now has 36 MPs while Umno 39, Pas 18. The total MPs for this pact is at least 93 without considering other independent MPs.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the divide, the remnants of Pakatan Harapan had decided to stick together to support PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister candidate. Currently, this pact has 92 MPs including 39 in PKR, 42 in Democratic Action Party (DAP) and 11 from Parti Amanah Negara.
To get a simple majority, 112 MPs are needed out of the total 222 parliamentary seats.
Since both pacts are still lacking in number, GPS as well as Parti Warisan Sabah which has nine MPs has become the deciding factor.
Meanwhile, in a latest development, Bersatu leader A Kadir Jasin has come forth to say that Muhyiddin’s candidacy was not endorsed by the Supreme Council.
He was reported by FMT to have said that the Supreme Council, which he is a member, was never invited for a discussion or informed about the matter.
Kadir said Bersatu’s stand is that its chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also interim Prime Minister, was still the candidate for prime minister.
Situations seem to be still very fluid. Whether the dust is settled enough for GPS to have a clear vision to make a decision remains uncertain.—DayakDaily
