Ting says it has always been the collective decision of GPS leaders to field winnable candidates from their respective component parties in every election. – Photo by Chimon Upon
MIRI (May 25): It would be foolish to change Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) winning formula of consensus among coalition partners in seats allocation during elections, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting.
In a statement today, he said it has always been the collective decision of GPS leaders to field winnable candidates from their respective component parties in every election in their traditional seats.
“If this understanding has worked well for us in GPS, it would be foolish for anyone to suggest that we change our proven way of doing things and walk down the path less travelled instead, where turmoil, uncertainty and instability lurk,” he said.
Ting was commenting on PBB Vice-President Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah who yesterday said GPS has the final decision on seat allocations for component parties.
Abdul Karim was commenting on a statement by Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing who recently said there is no such thing as legacy seats anymore because it is up to the constituents who to pick to represent them.
“Why do we need to rock the boat? Because when we rock the boat, at the end of the day, if there’s division, it’s the people who lose. We don’t want a situation like that,” Abdul Karim said.
On that regard, Ting echoed Abdul Karim, saying that in politics, maintaining stability and avoiding controversial or drastic changes that could disrupt the current order is paramount.
He said significant changes or challenges to the status quo can lead to uncertainty and conflict.
“In that context, Abdul Karim’s warning to Tiong is also timely,” Ting added.
Ting iterated that it is vital for all GPS component parties to avoid bringing up irrelevant, negative issues bordering on narrow, self-serving interests that could sow discomfort and discord among us.
He pointed out that history had shown that the most powerful government could be toppled not because the enemy was strong but because of internal strife within the party in power.
He added that as the governing coalition, GPS leaders should uphold stability, and focus on serving and tending to the needs of Sarawakians instead of worrying and debating over which party gets the most seats.