Onus on GPS grassroots to make rural voters know coalition better, says Mulu assemblyman

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Gerawat (seated, centre) joins PBB Mulu exco-members in a photo-call after the meeting.

MIRI: The grassroots members of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Zone 14, which covers the constituencies of Mulu, Telang Usan and Marudi, strive to work hard towards improving the understanding and awareness among rural population of Sarawak’s ruling coalition.

According to Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, who is chairman of GPS Zone 14, one of their efforts towards this end is to approach and be closer to the constituents in every area or village across these constituencies.

He acknowledges that the rural voters, such as those in his constituency, are more familiar with Barisan Nasional (BN)’s logo and ideology, than they are with GPS’.

“Thus, it is important to raise awareness of GPS being Sarawak’s ruling coalition that fights for the people’s rights.

“We want people and voters in the interior areas to know that our brand is no longer BN – it is now GPS. Therefore, all grassroots members of any (GPS) component party should do their very best to introduce GPS (to the rural constituents),” he told reporters after chairing a GPS Zone 14 meeting with the executive committee (exco) members of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Mulu branch, at Mulu State Constituency Service Centre here yesterday.

GPS, which was formed following the outcome of the 14th general election (GE14) last year, comprise four homegrown political parties – PBB, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

Prior to GE14, the four parties were under BN Sarawak.

On the meeting, Gerawat said the top agendum was to explain to all members the main objective of the establishment of GPS,
namely to ensure that Sarawak would be able to stand alone without being bound by the strict concept of unanimity or consensus.

He said the meeting was a follow-up to the launch of GPS by its chairman, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on Jan 19.

For GPS Zone 14, he said the launch would take place at a hotel here, on a date to be decided soon.

“In addition, the PBB Youth and PBB Women of Mulu branch, as well as its sub-branches, will hold various activities to reach out to the people and voters. At the same time, we aim to increase the number of membership,” said Gerawat.