Abang Johari gestures when delivering his speech at the launch. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Sarawak is further united following the official launch of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), said Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Chief Minister said Sarawak, unlike Peninsular Malaysia, does not have extreme politicians and the state has been fair to all irrespective of race.
“We are united and we do not have extreme politicians in Sarawak. We are fair. The Chinese community wants UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) recognised, we recognise UEC.
“The Bumiputeras need assistance, we offer them help. Sarawak is very unique because the Malays marry the Bidayuhs, the Bidayuhs marry the Chinese, the Chinese marry the Ibans and the Ibans marry the Malays. We have hybrid Sarawakians.
“We respect and understand one another. In Sarawak, we have no problem (of extremism). We have to preserve such Sarawakian way of lifestyle,” he said when launching the GPS at the State Indoor Stadium in Petra Jaya here Saturday night.
Abang Johari, who is GPS chairman and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, pledged that his administration will continue seeking more revenue to further develop Sarawak.
With GPS launched, he said Sarawakians now have a strong state-based coalition to decide the fate and future of their state.
“Like coastal roads in Sarawak, we find our own money to build. When we have a strong coalition, we are united. We can decide (on many policies and projects) ourselves.
“We are not beggars. We have the talent to develop our state of Sarawak. This is a new era, and we have to look for our own ways to develop the state,” he added.
Abang Johari reminded Sarawakians that he had set aside RM2.8 billion to equip rural areas across the state with treated water supply as well as RM2.3 billion for electricity supply in rural areas.
He said Sarawakians had given the coalition – formerly Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak — a strong mandate during the 2016 state election under the leadership of his predecessor Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, who passed away on Jan 11 in 2017.
He added Adenan had said that Sarawak should stop at nothing to get back what belonged to Sarawak within the context of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Tok Nan (Adenan) said we want our rights enshrined in MA63 and the Federal Constitution be given back to Sarawak. And Sarawakians gave us a very strong mandate in the last state election.
“Tok Nan left us too soon but his spirit is still there, and we will carry on the spirit of Tok Nan to get back what is ours,” pointed out Abang Johari.
In the May 9 election last year, he said Sarawak did not lose but the problem lay in the leadership (of BN) at the federal level.
“We won 19 out of the 31 seats in Sarawak. We did not lose. What happened is Semenanjung politics (failed),” he added.
Presently, GPS has 19 MPs with PBB having 13, PRS (three), PDP (two) and SUPP (one).