By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING: If Pakatan Harapan overthrew the current Sarawak government in the coming state elections, the state could suffer a setback in development and autonomous powers.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg made it clear that was the reason why Gabungan Party Sarawak (GPS) was formed: to protect the rights of the people of Sarawak.
“The stakes are high, and it’s very likely that if PH took over, Sarawak would not benefit much from development and would be further left behind despite being rich in natural resources.”
Abang Johari reminded that all these rights were enshrined in Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Sarawak’s wealth would be eroded away if Sarawak didn’t do anything now, emphasising that it was up to the people to support GPS.
“For GPS, the party coalition of PBB, PRS, SUPP and PDP objectives and direction is clear in order for Sarawak and its people to govern themselves and have its own autonomy to administer its own destiny,” he said.
“We are rich and we can use our wealth in natural resources to develop the state efficiently and prosper.”
He said after the GE14 last year, the federal government change made it difficult for Sarawak to obtain funding to develop the state.
“The only way was to form a new coalition in GPS that can take care of our people and the state interest. It is to ensure that we can be better in term of our socioeconomic development especially for those in rural areas.
“GPS must be strong, it is already strong but we must make it stronger than ever to protect our rights and our wealth,” he said before launching GPS Zone 1 and town hall session at Penview Convention Centre (PCCK) here today.
Abang Johari opined that for as long as we have GPS we can fend for ourselves and we will definitely do better on our on term.
“For as long as I still breath I will defend our rights,” he said to the applaud of the participants.
Also present were SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, PDP deputy president Datuk Anthony Nogeh, Pantai Damai assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (Samariang), Dr Hazland Abang Hipni (Demak Laut) and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. — DayakDaily
