KUCHING, March 9: Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat says where the whole house has collapsed, there is no more “backdoor”.
Describing it as “mischievous”, the MP rebutted the accusation that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) had helped in forming a backdoor Perikatan Nasional government.
“When the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government collapsed, there was no ‘rumah’ at all. So how can people accuse us of forming a ‘pintu belakang’ (backdoor) government when there was no ‘rumah’ left standing, no ‘pintu’ to enter?”
He said Democratic Action Party (DAP) politicians who have been accusing GPS were obviously upset they were no longer in the government and they had conveniently forgotten that GPS was not in the PH government then.
“The collapse (of PH) was due to internal struggles for power and positions,” asserted Lawson during a GPS roadshow for the Bukit Saban constituency at Rh Entrie Tabakang longhouse at Anyut yesterday.
Meanwhile, Lawson reiterated that GPS is a coalition comprising four local political parties — Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu(PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
“There is confusion faced by some. They think that by joining GPS, they are only joining PBB which is the biggest and strongest component.
“GPS is only the name of the coalition but its hallmark is in power-sharing by PBB, PRS, SUPP and PDP,” Lawson revealed.
He added that over the last two years of GPS administering the state, it had done exceptionally well where the GPS government was able to continue projects which the federal government had cancelled.
“Our chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had shown his wisdom in raising extra funds to finance them and the overall state development programmes.”
On the roadshow, the Betong MP said it enabled grassroots leaders to voice out their problems, expectations and most importantly, full support for Bukit Saban incumbent Douglas Uggah Embas who is also Deputy Chief Minister to be renominated.
Chuat later presented cheques for grants totalling RM59,000 to various women’s bureaus in Paku Ulu, Paku Tengah and Anyut. — DayakDaily
