KUCHING, Nov 14: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi has chided Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh for being unable to comprehend the coalition’s preparedness to work with any party to form a stable federal government while at the same time not letting the peninsula’s negative political culture become a common feature and practice in Sarawak.
He was referring to Wong’s statement published by a local English daily yesterday (Nov 13) where Wong had claimed that Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s statement contradicted Nanta’s.
Following this, Nanta stated that Wong’s admission as being confused by his statement with that of the Premier’s on working together with any political party from Peninsular Malaysia “clearly shows that he is well past his ‘sell-by date’”.
“Obviously (Wong) Soon Koh’s is no longer able to understand many things by now, so perhaps he should just retire and let the younger ones take over.
“Sibu desperately needs younger political leaders or servers who are more in step with time and more coherent and able to understand the needs of the people there.
“Not (being) able to understand and comprehend our simple statements is a very clear indication that (Wong) Soon Koh may be getting nearer that stage in age when someone is becoming too old, thus the mind cannot function normally,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Nanta who is also caretaker Minister for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and P215 Kapit incumbent further clarified that he simply meant that GPS is prepared to work with any party which can establish a steady and stable federal government as it wants to be part of it.
“Sarawak has at most 31 seats, thus logically we need to work with other parties from [the peninsula] and Sabah to make up the numbers. Sarawak cannot form a government solely by GPS. That should be clear and simple to understand,” he said.
Meanwhile, he pointed out the Premier’s statement is simply saying that GPS will not allow the negative aspects and features of the political culture from West Malaysian political parties to become a common feature and practice in Sarawak.
“We can work together in the cabinet of ministers, in the governmental issues and procedures, administration etc, but GPS will always be on guard to see to it that Sarawak’s interests and rights shall not be negatively affected.” — DayakDaily
