KUCHING, Sept 22: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak is of the opinion that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would need all the help it could get from PAS to win in the coming state election due in 2021.
PAS Sarawak commissioner Jofri Jaraiee said according to observation by the party, GPS would not be able to face Pakatan Harapan (PH) alone in the coming state election unless it is working with PAS especially in facing the common enemy of Democratic Action Party (DAP).
“PAS has been in the state for over 20 years with its first branch set up in Bintulu in 1986. This shows that PAS has been accepted by Sarawakians.
“Even though PAS is a Peninsula-based party, its agenda is not only about the Peninsula Malaysia, but to ensure the prosperity of the rakyat under the Islamic principle.
“The cooperation (PAS-GPS) should be considered as a strategic move in facing the coming state election, and to ensure PH does not win in Sarawak,” Jofri said in the statement.
Jofri said PAS could also be the new check-and-balance for the GPS government. To him, there was every possibility that Sarawakians could change and choose PAS, since the Barisan Nasional (BN) government could also be toppled.
“The benefits of the Bumiputeras in Sarawak should be given priority, and this is what PAS Sarawak is fighting for,” he added.
Meanwhile, PAS Sarawak Founder’s Assembly Chief Achau Mujah said DAP, being a Chinese-based party, is not suitable to be the voice of Sarawakians
He said the reason why the previous government lost Putrajaya was because DAP had split the votes of the Malays in the Peninsular Malaysia despite the Malays being the majority race there.
“And now they (DAP) are trying to split the Bumiputeras of Sarawak by injecting the perception that PAS-GPS cooperation is unholy.
“This is creating tension among the Ibans and Malays in Sarawak, which is the work of DAP,” said Achau.
He said PAS Sarawak does not discriminate any races in the state, especially the Bumiputeras of Sarawak and reiterating that PAS would definitely not sideline the Dayak community.
“It would be a loss if GPS rejects the idea of PAS-GPS cooperation as this would also mean a loss to majority Bumiputera community of Sarawak,” said Achau. — DayakDaily
