Abdul Karim: GPS able to reach out to all S’wakians
SIBU: Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) seems to be able to reach out to all Sarawakians and bring Sarawak forward with the experience of its component parties.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this in response to Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak ( Teras) secretary-general Banyi Beriak’s suggestion that it might be a good idea for Teras and United People’s Party ( UPP) to revisit the idea of a merger to include State Reform Party ( STAR) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru ( PBDSB) as all are local- based parties that have yet to be invited to join GPS.
Banyi added that if they were not invited by GPS to join its fold, they might have to consider other options including forming perhaps a new umbrella party called ‘Sarawak Baru’, which he hoped would be acceptable to UPP, STAR and PBDSB.
Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman said: “On a personal note, I don’t see the need for too many political party trying to woo the various ethnic communities in Sarawak.”
He said Malaysia practises parliamentary democracy and anyone who feels they have the support of the people are free to form any political party or to form an umbrella party comprising several parties.
The people will, however, have the final say whether these parties or umbrella party are relevant and acceptable or not, said Abdul Karim, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) vice-president.
“However, leaders of these ‘small’ parties or umbrella parties have to be aware that their action might or might not lead to the disunity of Sarawakians.
“STAR and PBDSB have been around for many years and have participated in many elections.
“They have been rejected by the people in many elections and I am not sure whether the people will accept them if they merge and form an umbrella party. That, we will have to wait and see,” he said.
It was reported that UPP had said it was going for a rebranding process and that the MoU it signed with Sarawak United People’s Party before the last general election has automatically lapsed when Sarawak BN government pulled out of Barisan Nasional.