GPS reps deliver instead of talking — Abdullah
KUCHING: The ‘YBs’ or elected representatives in Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) have been instructed by the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to focus on working on the ground and servicing the people instead of engaging in political rhetoric.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office ( Corporate Affairs) Abdullah Saidol, who stated this, said the elected representatives have been told to deliver projects especially those listed under the Rural Transformation Programme ( RTP).
He pointed out that while Pakatan Harapan ( PH) appears to be making political announcements here and there, the GPS elected representatives would rather let their work do the talking.
“There are talks that the GPS’ YBs appear quiet on the ground, but do you know now all YBs are now busy filing our RTP projects. The YBs are going to the site because we want to make sure the projects are people centric projects, truly being felt by the people on the ground.
“We are busy doing that, we want to serve the people, rather than announcing things like ‘Oh our party registered 30,000 members’ or ‘so and so has left that party to join our party’. They in PH do what they need to do, but we in GPS believe people in Sarawak want to see their YB work, rather than talking politics,” he said yesterday.
Abdullah was met by reporters after he attended the ‘Future in Tech: Sarawak’ programme at the Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak (Tegas) Innovation Centre at Icom Square.
Abdullah is also Tegas secretary. Also present were Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, who is also Tegas treasurer, and Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abg Hipni who is Tegas board member.
Abdullah also said the elected representatives in GPS were also told to stay close to members of their respective parties and make sure they stay on their toes.
He added they were also asked to recruit more party members.
“We try to get more registered voters and make them realise the fight for Sarawak’s interests and rights always starts with us (the parties in GPS),” he said.
He also said that although GPS has not announced their election machinery for the coming state election unlike some PH parties, it did not mean the machinery is not there.
“We must remember that Sarawak is the only state which holds elections almost every two years. We just had state election in 2016, followed by general election in 2018, and trust me two more years down the road we would have our state election. There seems to be non-stop politicking in Sarawak.
“I would believe our machinery is there, just fresh from the general election. I think the people of Sarawak have enough of politics. They want delivery instead of all the rhetoric,” he said.
Abdullah appeared unfazed when asked on his comment regarding the aggressive move made by PH parties to spread their influence in Sarawak.
He reminded voters that GPS or previously Barisan Nasional Sarawak has managed to stop Umno from coming to Sarawak, but PH is now letting Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) which is led by a former Umno leader to spread their wings to Sarawak.
He nonetheless believes voters will now see and realise that the PH federal government has not been able to deliver all its promises and given all sorts of excuses, as well as coming up with flip-flop policies.
“We all know about their flip flop policies. We want better schools but they talk about what colour of school shoes to be worn. When we talk about oil royalty but they want to give based on profit,” he said.
Meanwhile, more than 100 participants from various secondary schools attended the ‘Future in Tech: Sarawak’ programme jointly organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Monash University Australia.
Abdullah said such programme is in line with the direction taken by the state government to transform to digital economy, and also to expose the youths to key skills and areas of study needed for technology driven future.