Tiong: GPS must not repeat BN’s mistake

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Tiong believes that the time has come for the young people to be given the chance to become the future leaders of Sarawak.

BINTULU: It is vital for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to never repeat the mistake of Barisan Nasional (BN), which lost its status as the federal ruling coalition after more than 50 years in power.

In voicing this out, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said BN was defeated due to the failure of its leaders to listen and attend to the voice and the needs of the grassroots.

In this regard, Tiong who is also Bintulu MP  stressed that it is important for GPS to not repeat such mistake.

For the record, GPS was formed about a month after the 14th general election (GE14) on May 9 last year. It comprises four homegrown political parties — Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and the PDP.

All four were under BN Sarawak prior to GE14.

“The main parties (in BN) were too egoistic and selfish. They had been receiving big mandates from the ‘rakyat’ (people) but in the end, they lost the support in just a split second,” Tiong spoke at the opening of PDP’s triennial general assembly (TGA) at the civic centre here yesterday, where Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg officiated at the ceremony.

In his remarks, Tiong also expressed his hope for GPS to arrange the allocation of seats for the next Sarawak state election that would be more favourable to the PDP.

“To be honest, I’m facing a huge pressure from PDP members regarding our direction and our fate. There had been many times when we were left out in terms of seats allocation for the 11th state election in 2016,” he said.

At the time, he said, PDP was allocated with eight seats – three were for those chosen and regarded by the then-BN (Barisan Nasional) Sarawak as winnable candidates; three chosen by PDP; and two seats that were not listed by the PDP leadership, but the candidates were given the chance to contest by BN Sarawak.

Tiong said the power-sharing concept must be carefully observed by the component parties because the outcome of the last general election showed that without any sense of sincerity, it would be a disaster.

He also stressed that the wishes of the grassroots must be given due attention, especially in the selection of candidates, emphasising that the candidates chosen by the grassroots must be those receiving strong support from the people.

“The winnable candidate is no more a major issue in the selection criteria from any of the component parties.

“If an ad hoc selection is made, it will be difficult for the party machinery to move and assist the candidate to win. Sufficient time allows us to solve the differences in our opinions,” said Tiong.

He said he had, many times, raised many issues and voiced out his opinions to the BN leadership before the GE14 – whether during official or unofficial meetings, including those involving other component parties – up to a point where he was branded as not being a team player by some BN leaders.

“As a leader, we should celebrate all opinions brought up by the grassroots by considering all forms of factors involved.

“As a new coalition, we should never repeat the tradition of our previous government – which was ‘recycling the same old faces’ of politicians, even if the people objected some of them,” he said.

Tiong said the retired politicians should never be given any party post, but as veterans, they could help by becoming advisors.

He believed that the time has come for the young people to be given the chance to become the future leaders of Sarawak.

“GPS is a unique coalition – I believe with these young people in the leadership of the PDP and GPS, we would be able to create a good succession plan for Sarawak.

“As a newly-formed coalition, we believe that our Chief Minister would definitely be able to consider our sincere appeal, treat us fairly, put back the system and maintain our principles, which have been agreed together.

“Sir (addressing Abang Johari), PDP members are truly honest and loyal to GPS,” said Tiong.

Tiong said Abang Johari had taken a bold move in leading the GPS, which was formed on June 12 last year.

“GPS is currently the third-largest bloc in the Dewan Rakyat. This coalition would focus on protecting the interest and rights of Sarawak based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“GPS must be Sarawak-centric, looking at policies that are the best for Sarawak,” said the MP.