Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has refuted the suggestion that the disassociation of Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties from BN to form Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is similar to putting ‘old wine in a new bottle’.
He pointed out that although GPS is a replacement of Sarawak BN, the two entities are not the same because their direction would be different.
“We will be different from BN because we are a bit independent,” he told reporters after announcing BN Sarawak’s departure from the national coalition.
Abang Johari said GPS would remain as an opposition at federal level but it would collaborate with the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government because of the federal system practised in the country.
“We are still on our own. We are not joining them as a coalition. We are working with them but we have our own bloc.
“We work together for the interest of the country,” he added.
Abang Johari said after they had formalised the coalition, they would have to inform the Registrar of Societies, BN, state legislative speakers and both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara secretaries of their decision, which he believes would not take long because it is just a formality.
On the sitting arrangement of GPS MPs in the coming parliament sitting, he said the secretary of the Dewan Rakyat would be informed and it is up to the secretary to decide where they will sit.
Asked if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the 1MDB scandals were the main reasons for them to leave BN, the chief minister said: “No. We have considered all aspects after the 14th general election while at the same time we are focusing on Sarawak’s interests and rights.
“Of course we say ‘thank you’ for whatever success and cooperation we had before through BN. But the situation has changed and therefore we have to get ourselves tuned to the changing situation.”
The chief minister also denied having a meeting with acting Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“I did not meet Zahid. I don’t know where you people got the information. This is fake news.
“I only met the prime minister as a courtesy because he is the prime minister and I paid a visit to him,” he said.