SIBU, Nov 4 — Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today called on voters in the state to give their ballots to his coalition in the November 19 general election if they want political stability.
He asserted that GPS played a key role in determining Malaysia’s stability during the political crisis following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government from the 'Sheraton Move' in early 2020.
Abang Johari, who is also Sarawak premier, said both the previous Perikatan Nasional (PN) and its successor Barisan Nasional-led federal governments have acknowledged Sarawak’s strong voice in Parliament.
“This time we will play the same role. We need a very strong federal government and that is why we must have a strong representation in Parliament,” he said at the launch of the Sarawakku Sayang programme here.
“We have placed 31 candidates and with God’s blessing and assistance, we also want to sweep all the seats, if possible.
“You know people propose, but God disposes. So we just pray that we will win all the seats and be humble,” Abang Johari said. He promised Sarawakians that they will have a bright future and that public facilities and infrastructure in the state will improve as long as GPS is in power.
He portrayed the Opposition DAP that had represented Sibu and Lanang in Parliament for the past 10 years as a “Malayan party” that did not care for Sarawakian interests, claiming the Pakatan Harapan component did not have any agenda to develop the district.
“You know this Malayan party has to get the advice from Kuala Lumpur because their bosses are from there. “But for GPS, the bosses are in Sarawak.
We are Sarawakians and we must develop Sarawak on our own,” he said. Abang Johari reminded Sarawakians of GPS’ election track record and urged them to back its two candidates in Sibu and Lanang.
“This time we have two experienced candidates — Clarence Ting in Sibu and Wong Ching Yong in Lanang — and we must also sweep these two in the general election,” he said.
He said in the last state election, GPS swept four of the five seats within the Sibu and Lanang parliamentary constituencies.
Abang Johari said he wants Sarawak to become the nerve of economic development of Malaysia.
“If you study Germany, it is a federation. It is one of the power houses of Europe. If Germany sneezes, the rest of Europe will also be affected.
“The state that really gives a high growth to Germany is Bavaria. “Let Sarawak be the Bavaria of Malaysia. But we need to work together,” he said.
