BERSATU, PAS WON’T CONTEST SARAWAK POLLS
Deputy CM says leaders of both parties gave their assurance during PN meeting
TAN Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang have given their assurance that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Pas will not contest in the next Sarawak state election, which is due next year.
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing said Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, and Hadi, who is Pas president, gave their assurance on the matter during a two-hour-long meeting of Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders, which took place in Putrajaya near here on Wednesday.
Masing, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, said the assurance given by Muhyiddin and Hadi would clear the way and enable Sarawak’s state ruling coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), to fight the opposition head-on in the state polls.
Masing said the assurance was a good sign and showed that PN component parties respected and honoured its commitment to assist GPS when the state election is called.
“GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg (who is also Sarawak chief minister) has told Perikatan Nasional leaders during Wednesday’s meeting that the state election is just around the corner and the state ruling coalition is ready for it.
“Although Bersatu and Pas have branches in Sarawak, the president of the respective parties have assured that they (Bersatu and Pas) will not contest in the Sarawak state election,” Masing said yesterday.
PRS is one of the four component parties in GPS, which include Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
The mandate for the current state legislature expires in June next year.
During the meeting, Masing said Abang Johari, who is also the PBB president, made it clear that GPS would support Muhyiddin as the prime minister and that the state ruling coalition would provide him full support to lead the charge in the 15th General Election (GE15).
“Despite PN being a loose coalition of 12 political parties, all heads of political parties present (at the meeting) have agreed for Muhyiddin to lead the charge come GE15 and by virtue of being the leader, upon winning the war, will be the prime minister.
“This understanding augurs well for PN when GE15 is called, unlike Pakatan Harapan which is plagued by the dispute between (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, (PKR president) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and (Parti Warisan Sabah president) Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, on the prime ministerial candidate.
“Muhyiddin and other PN party leaders are confident of winning the battle in GE15, once technical matters within it are ironed out.
“From my observation, the ‘history’ and personalities involved in the political parties from the peninsula, especially between Bersatu and Umno, and the various political component parties which form the PN coalition in Sabah, are on the way for a healthy political coalition to emerge.
“However, I am confident that these technical details within the PN coalition will be solved.
“The sooner the better,” said Masing.
He, however, warned that it would be dangerous for Perikatan Nasional (PN) if the component parties, especially those from the peninsula, could not overcome their differences before facing GE15.