GPS elected representatives and leaders in a photo call with supporters.
Rentap (seventh left) and delegation members welcomed by local GPS leaders upon their arrival at Sarikei Civic Centre.
SARIKEI: The formation of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is the result of 55 years of ‘unpleasant’ experience working with peninsula-based parties, says Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
He adds that having a state-based coalition gives Sarawak the platform to be led by her own people to safeguard the interests and rights of Sarawakians.
“All this while, we had been promised fair treatment in terms of distribution of development funds and revenues in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963, but instead of honouring it, the federal leaders had taken some of our rights including our autonomy.
“Therefore, Barisan Nasional’s (BN) loss in the last general election gave us the perfect opportunity to break away from the unpleasant experience of being controlled by outsiders and form GPS,” he said during the Sarikei leg of the statewide GPS Flag Rally programme at the civic centre yesterday.
The Balai Ringin assemblyman further stated that GPS leaders would be going to the ground to deliver on planned or promised projects for the benefit of all Sarawakians, as the coalition now operated on the concept of serving the people as a team rather that based on any particular component party.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh in his speech at the event concurred with Snowdan’s take on working with peninsula-based parties under BN.
“Fifty-five years of working with Peninsular Malaysia parties under BN was full of blunders and unfulfilled promises.
“We have learned from our experience and have made amends by quitting BN and forming GPS. Other Sarawak leaders should follow our footstep instead of repeating the same mistake by joining Pakatan Harapan (PH), which is another peninsula-based coalition,” he said.
He pointed to the promise made by a DAP leader before the last general election that Sarawak would get 30 per cent share of the development fund and 20 per cent oil and gas royalty, as yet another example of broken promises by a peninsula-based coalition.
“But after they (PH) won and appointed its ministers, Sarawak still only gets seven per cent of the development fund and five per cent in oil and gas royalty,” said Len Talif, adding another Sarawak federal minister had announced the cancellation of various projects implemented by the previous administration instead of fighting for more funds as promised.
Others who spoke during the event were Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs Abdullah Saidol, Jemoreng assemblyman Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, Repok assemblyman Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii, Meluan assemblyman Rolland Duat, Tanjong Manis MP Yusuf Abdul Wahab and Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing.
Those present during the event included GPS Flag Rally leader Gerald Rentap who is Layar assemblyman, Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh and Machan assemblyman Allan Siden.