I urge Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg to clarify the intentions and direction of Gabungan Parti Sarawak(GPS) in view of the widely circulated video of former Deputy Prime Minister and current acting BN Chairman and UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claiming that they had a meeting (with Abang Jo) regarding the formation of GPS and their alleged guarantee that they work together in the event BN returns to power.
This is contrary to the claims by Chief Minister Abang Johari on the 7th June 2018 which was widely reported in the media which claims that there was no such meeting with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. So, the question is whether was there really a meeting of such manner? Either that one party is lying, or both actually are, and I believe they owe it to the people to explain the situation.
The video recording clearly shows Ahmad Zahid Hamidi making a speech in a UMNO Hari Raya celebration dinner in Selangor claiming that Abang Johari met with him to negotiate the formation of GPS in view of the upcoming 12th State Election which he claimed he gave his views and agreed to the formation of GPS. It went on further to elaborate that they will cooperate with BN but will form GPS just for the importance of winning the next State elections. He further claims that Abang Johari made an assurance that in event BN forms the next Federal government again, they will return to the BN fold together which includes parties like UMNO.
Is this some kind of secret pact that GPS has formed with UMNO and that the disassociation of Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties from BN to form Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is mere political gimmick purely intended just to win the upcoming State Elections? Again, if such claims are true, then even after the rejection of the people of Sarawak towards the policies and extreme practices of UMNO, GPS still fully intends to support and cooperate with them just to stay in power. This speaks volume that they are willing to forsake principles or even the wishes of people, just to stay in power.
We hold the stand that GPS seems to only be “new wine in old bottle” or just a superficial change of façade as the same leaders who are still in the party are the same ones that are either directly involved or accomplices to the alleged corruption and robbing of our State resources. There was no clear direction nor new reforms policies within the State government, thus it still the same old component parties of Sarawak BN practicing the same old BN policies.
I thus urge Chief Minister Abang Johari to come out and clarify such matter to the people of Sarawak as it involves issue of public interest and the direction of GPS in the State. The people of Sarawak should not be misled on the intentions of GPS or even made to support such coalition on false pretences especially if it still intends to fully support and be part of BN and UMNO especially after the State Elections.