By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Nov 16: Sarawak is fortunate as it is separated from the peninsula by the South China Sea which acts as a barrier to prevent sowing of discord among the people of Sarawak, said GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said if not because of the South China Sea, it would be impossible to prevent undesirable characters from sowing seeds of disrespect among the people here.
“Thank goodness there is the South China Sea that has acted as a buffer zone between the other side which is chaotic and our side here. So, we have nothing to do with the chaos on the other side.
“And because of that we are able to defend our political stability,” Abang Johari said at the closing of the inaugural Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Convention at Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching (BCCK) here today.
He warned that even then, Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders continued to stir discord among the people in Sarawak.
“Now they try to implement the Federal Village Community Management Council (MPKKP) here which is to divide the people. They know very well that Sarawak has already has a proper grassroots leadership structure. Even during the colonial days, they didn’t dare touch it (structure) because we have native officers,” he said.
In this regard, he said Sarawak will use its existing legal rights to prevent its implementation.
“We will but they can always change the structure,” he clarified during the press conference later.
Abang Johari reiterated that it is crucial that there is mutual respect between the PH federal government and the GPS state government.
“But it (the respect) must be mutual. We respect them because they are the federal government but they must respect us because we are also the government (in Sarawak).
“And what is worse is that they said in Miri recently that they wanted to conquer us. But we will not remain silent, we will fight back,” he reiterated.
Abang Johari, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president said the present peace and harmony in Sarawak has attracted foreign direct investment (FDI), for which Sarawak is currently third highest in the country.
“We have been recognised as the model of racial harmony and because of this peaceful ecosystem we are able to attract FDI which currently makes us third in the country,” he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that after PH took over Putrajaya, there have been many issues which have not been properly addressed including the succession plan for the prime minister’s post.
“There is so much uncertainties on the other side. But over here our political situation is very stable under GPS,” he said.
The Chief Minister also revealed that GPS has a big agenda for Sarawak which will be revealed soon, which he said will be announced after the state election.
“As for when the state election will be held, that I don’t know. Otherwise I will tell you now,” he said.
When asked to clarify later, he said the election machinery was ever ready. — DayakDaily
