‘Right move to quit Barisan Nasional’

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GPS would not have had say in country’s political crisis if it stayed in BN, says CM

Abang Johari (seated centre) speaks to reporters at the end of the event. He is flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (left) and Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, while standing behind them are GPS leaders. — Photo by Muhamad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: Sarawak would not have had a voice in resolving the country’s political crisis if Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) remained in Barisan Nasional (BN), Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said.

He said the events last week showed that GPS made the right move when it left Barisan Nasional, which had been in power for some 60 years, in the aftermath of the coalition’s defeat in the 2018 general election.

“Now we are a separate entity, people realise why we left BN. If we were still in BN, the BN men would be our spokesperson. But now we are on our own, they had to look for me even when I was in Sungai Asap (attending a function).

“If they don’t care about us, then I will not care about you. I’m not saying we are regionalistic. This is real power sharing,” Abang Johari told reporters after officiating at the Sarawak World Interfaith Harmony Week 2020, here yesterday.

The state’s ruling coalition had played a decisive role in convincing the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned last Monday following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.

Abang Johari explained that he was in Sungai Asap for an event when Istana Negara contacted him on Feb 29 on who GPS was supporting, as it was unclear then who had the majority in parliament to become the new prime minister.

“I only received several missed-call notifications when I got home around 4pm that day. So I called back.

“Some friends asked why I was in Sungai Asap during that critical moment, well I said the Sarawak people first. Why should I be bothered (with what was happening in the peninsula)? It is not our problem.
It is theirs. I initially said we (Sarawak) are not involved,” he said.

The chief minister maintained that the issues that led to the political crisis had nothing to do with Sarawak, but that the state had to get involved in order to help restore political stability in the country.

In spite of Sarawak’s role in resolving the crisis, Abang Johari pointed out that cabinet posts were not a priority for GPS when it decided to support Muhyiddin as prime minister.

“That is secondary. Wait first. If they invite us (to discuss positions in the federal cabinet), then we will see. Sarawak interest first,” he said.

GPS has given Abang Johari the mandate to decide whether its MPs should hold any posts in the new federal cabinet, which is expected to be announced soon by Muhyiddin.

When asked why GPS had supported Muhyiddin, Abang Johari said: “Because there’s no option, and I know Muhyiddin. We were in BN youth once. I know all of them. I also know Anwar (PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim).”

He said GPS had initially supported Dr Mahathir as prime minister but eventually agreed on Muhyiddin after the flip-flop between Dr Mahathir and Anwar.­