By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 21: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) does not care when the 15th General Election (GE15) will be called because it is ready for it any time.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, in saying this, emphasised that all the component parties under GPS — Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Sarawak (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) are united and will defend Sarawak for the future of Sarawakians.
“Our policies are clear, inclusive, and forward looking. We want our private sector and our economy to expand. I believe Sarawak will be a rising star in the region.
“With that, I hope all of us in GPS will be in one heart and one mind to face this (general) election. Then we will have a stronger voice.
“There is a wind of change, and Sarawak remains our priority, and that becomes our platform for further negotiations (with the federal government),” he said when addressing the SUPP 25th Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) 2022 held at the party’s headquarters today which was attended by its top leadership as well as members.
With Sarawak taking an aggressive and firm approach to exert its authority in restoring its rights in accordance with Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and continuous efforts to expand its economy, Abang Johari clarified that Sarawak is not anti-federal.
“Don’t misconstrue. We are just fighting for our rights as per MA63 and the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) Report. That’s all, not more than that but not less than that. It is for everybody.
“Sarawak has achieved many things in our negotiations (with Putrajaya). During the first MA63 meeting chaired by the then prime minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin), I stated that our boundary and Continental Shelf are non-negotiable.
“Somebody mentioned that the onus is on us to bring (the matter) to court. But why should we? The onus is on them to dispute whether it is ours or not. We will go ahead, and if they think we have no right, they can bring us to court. The locus standi can be with them to dispute. ‘Betul tak? Bukan bodoh lah.’ (Correct or not? We are not stupid),” he emphasised.
Congratulating SUPP for its achievements and efforts over the years to regain the people’s confidence and emerge as a strong party today, Abang Johari is confident the other component parties will do the same.
“And God Willing, this parliamentary election, we will work together in unity and, if possible, win all the 31 seats we will be contesting,” he added.
SUPP president, who is also Deputy Premier, Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and all SUPP lawmakers from throughout Sarawak were present. — DayakDaily
