KUCHING, Aug 20: The GPS Backbenchers Club has hit back at DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen over accusation that GPS costed Malaysia its chance to have the first ever East Malaysian Prime Minister by supporting Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Club, in response, questioned who in actual fact did the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) allies supported when all along it appeared that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was PH favoured candidate for the post.
“We would like to ask Chong if it is the position of DAP Sarawak to support Shafie, seeing as the Semporna MP (member of Parliament) already withdrew from the race for premiership to make way for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“As far as the public is concerned, who did DAP, PKR and Amanah and other PH allies support as Prime Minister nominee? Was it Shafie Apdal?
“If so, why was Anwar the sole PH prime minister candidate? Wasn’t it the decision of PH to nominate Anwar and never Shafie?
“If such was the case, then why blame GPS?,” the Club asked of the political hypocrisy involved in a statement today.
The Club asserted that the PH themselves had not been consistent over which one of its leaders should be in the running for the top job, resolving it by betting on all its horses.
“What Chong and the DAP are doing is blaming GPS for their own failures and infighting in PH,” it added.
Yesterday, Chong criticised GPS’ support for Ismail Sabri to be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia as literally depriving an East Malaysian the chance to be the Prime Minister for the first time in the country’s history.
It was understood that Mohd Shafie had the conditional support of 105 Opposition lawmakers and would have gained a simple parliamentary majority had GPS backed him.
Chong, who is Stampin MP, added that it was a great disservice to the people of both the Borneo states and also a setback to Sarawak and Sabah’s common struggle for greater autonomy for the two states.
He said that GPS has wronged the nation and Sarawak by supporting Ismail Sabri, whom he said has shown over the past year that he was unable to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also accused GPS of effectively enabling Umno to regain the Prime Minister’s post through its support for Ismail Sabri.— DayakDaily
