Truly Sarawak-based opposition parties welcomed

0

THE Sarawak government encourages the formation of new opposition parties that are truly Sarawak-based and not affiliated in any way to non-Sarawakian or foreign political parties to participate in Sarawak politics.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) was a truly Sarawak-based party, and helmed only by Sarawakian.

“We need to garner more educated and clever young men and women to be involved in politics so that our political future could be strengthened against incursions by foreign interests.

“Today, we have no 100 per cent Sarawak-based opposition parties. Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak is only the Sarawak chapter of the national Pakatan Harapan based in Peninsula Malaysia, and with leaders from Persekutuan Tanah Melayu,” he said in his winding-up speech yesterday.

The chief minister said PH Sarawak had very little say over national policy on behalf of Sarawak.

He believed many Sarawakians have learnt from history the danger of Sarawak parties being too closely aligned with Peninsula-based parties to the extent of being subservient to the national politics.

This, he said, was one loop-hole in such national party concept.

“Sarawak does not want Sarawak chapter of national parties to take up positions of political power in Sarawak. Neither do they want non-Sarawakians to influence Sarawak behind the scene,” he said.

In the context of PBB, Abang Johari said they had all along objected to Umno spreading its wing to Sarawak, and this would remain the party’spolicy.

“I am therefore not wrong when I bar non-Sarawakians from entering Sarawak knowing they could be here to stir up sentiments and emotions that will destroy the harmony and split the people of Sarawak.

“The risk of disruptive elements to our peace and harmony is one good reason why I will not relinquish the rights of Sarawak to control its immigration policy.

“As I have said, we shall debate on ideas and policies, but we shall not question the right of each of our communities their unique identity, culture and way of life because they define their own intrinsic values, which are rich and precise to the Sarawakian identity,” he said.