Gabungan Parti Sarawak convoy gets rousing welcome in Batu Kawa
KUCHING: Hundreds of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) supporters and component party members thronged the RPR Batu Kawa 1 community hall to receive GPS Flag Rally convoy here last night.
Batu Kawa is the third-last of GPS convoy 19 stops which kicked off in Lawas on Jan 11.
Welcoming the convoy headed by Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap was Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is Batu Kawa assemblyman.
Comprising 70 GPS leaders and members as well as media practitioners, the GPS convoy is expected in Sadong Jaya and Kota Samarahan today (Jan 18).
The stops covered thus far were Lawas, Limbang, Miri, Bintulu, Mukah, Selangau, Sibu, Kapit, Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman, Balai Ringin, Serian, Siburan, Bau, Lundu and Batu Kawa.
Rentap hands over the GPS flag to Dr Abdul Rahman (right).
The four component parties of GPS are Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
The eight-day convoy aims at promoting GPS and its logo and anthem to the people across Sarawak before the coalition’s official launch at the State Indoor Stadium tomorrow (Jan 19).
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is GPS chairman, unveiled the coalition’s hornbill-themed logo and anthem on Jan 9.
Addressing supporters, Rentap, who is also GPS Youth chief, called on Sarawakians to stand together with the Sarawak-based coalition to defend their rights.
“If we don’t fight for ourselves and our future generation, there will be nothing left for Sarawak. So stand with GPS to fight and defend the rights of Sarawak,” he said.
Also with the convoy was Petra Jaya MP and PBB senior vice president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who said they wanted to not just introduce GPS to Sarawakians but also hoped that “the hornbill will fly high”.
“We want to make our name in not just Sarawak and Malaysia, but also across the globe because GPS is to position Sarawak globally,” he said, pledging that GPS would go all-out to defend the rights of Sarawakians.
After the convoy, Fadillah said GPS would go to all villages across the state in the hope of making sure the people of Sarawak are and will be with GPS.
“That is our commitment and we act in unison to fight for Sarawak,” he added.
Dr Sim, who is SUPP president, said Sarawak has to be ruled by Sarawak-based parties and Sarawakian leaders, given that those from Peninsular Malaysia do not know the needs of Sarawakians.
“Sarawakians do not want to ‘tengok saja’ (just look), which is why we impose the (five per cent) sales tax (on petroleum products). We do not want to keep on asking and demanding (funds from Putrajaya) and ‘tengok saja’,” he pointed out.
He added that the Pakatan Harapan federal government should listen to the voices of Sarawakians who are serious about taking back their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Among those present at the event were Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.