SUPP adopts 10-point understanding for formation of GPS

KUCHING: The annual delegates conference of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) on Sunday adopted a 10-point understanding for the formation of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

The Borneo Post was informed of the 10-point understanding written in both English and Chinese by a reliable source yesterday.

Topping the list is 'The Chief Minister shall be a nominee from any founding member party who commands the majority support in the Sarawak (State) Legislative Assembly (DUN)'.

The second point says that a nominee each (a current DUN member) from the remaining three founding member parties shall be appointed as one of the three deputy chief ministers, and the chief minister may at his absolute discretion appoint additional deputy chief minister.

It also says the four founding member parties of GPS shall be SUPP, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

At present, the Sarawak state cabinet has three deputy chief ministers - two from PBB and the other from PRS.

The third point asserts that all state and parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak shall be agreed upon and assigned to every founding member party, whereby each member party shall have full rights and powers in deciding and nominating own candidates for their state and parliamentary constituencies.

It also says that the letter of authorisation for the use of the GPS logo shall be granted to the candidates accordingly.

None of the founding member parties shall contest in or hold at any one time more than 49 per cent of the total number of state seats in Sarawak, according to the fourth point.

"Appointments of cabinet ministers and assistant ministers, and allotment of portfolios shall come from member parties and shall have the consultation and consensus of the member parties.

"The appointments for various postings of all Sarawak government agencies, municipal and rural district councillors, community leaders, GLC and all the statutory bodies shall be discussed before appointments which shall be made only upon recommendations by the member parties," say the fifth and sixth point.

The seventh point says all major policies affecting Sarawak's rights and interest must be discussed with all founding member parties before implementation.

As its eighth point, the party wants the administration of natural resources, land matters and award of Sarawak government's projects to be managed with transparency and fairness such as through open tender.

SUPP also suggested that the intake and composition of civil servants should reflect multiracial characteristics of Sarawak and promotion should be based on meritocracy as its ninth point.