Reps allegedly quitting GPS due to loss of confidence

KUCHING: Talk is rife that three assemblymen from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) are planning to leave the coalition.

A source said word on the ground was that the three assemblymen were the latest among a number of elected representatives from GPS who wanted to jump ship.

On Saturday, Berita Harian reported that six members of parliament (MPs) from GPS were claimed to be leaving Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) to join a new party known called Parti Pribumi Sarawak (Pribumi). PBB is part of the ruling GPS coalition in Sarawak.

The claims were highlighted in a Facebook page, believed to belong to a Pribumi member.

The source said the three GPS assemblymen had expressed their intention to leave the coalition after the six MPs made their intention known.

BH learnt that out of the six MPs and three assemblymen (total nine elected representatives), seven of them are from PBB. while the remaining two are from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

The source said the nine elected representatives had lost their confidence in GPS’ top leadership, particularly PBB, which is the largest party in GPS.

Santubong member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was allegedly one of the six PBB representatives who would be leaving, described the speculation as “ridiculous”.

He said it was a cheap tactic by Pribumi to attract attention.

“This speculation is ridiculous, including the one where I would supposedly be joining Pakatan Harapan. As for the other five people, this is the first time I’m hearing it.”

Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri described GPS as a close-knit family.

“To date, not one of us have expressed our dissatisfaction to be in GPS.”

She said all PBB representatives in GPS had confidence in the leadership of Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg, who upheld the principle of maturity in politics.