Penguang agrees with UM survey findings on GPS
MIRI: Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said the findings of a survey which showed Sarawakians were predominantly in support of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) were as expected, judging by the political reality on the ground.
According to the Marudi assemblyman, GPS is the best platform for Sarawakians to decide their own destiny without being answerable or accountable to any supreme power.
He gave these remarks when asked to comment on the recent survey conducted by Universiti Malaya between June and September this year, which showed that generally 60 to 70 per cent of voters in Sarawak support GPS which forms the Sarawak government.
Penguang said it is only right and just that Sarawakians support local-based parties in GPS as they wished to see Sarawak progressing and developing in the manner as desired and that together they can protect the rights of Sarawak and restore those that had been eroded intentionally or unintentionally over the past many years.
“Sarawakians, regardless of their racial or religious background, should stand united in one voice, to ensure that their rights and privileges as enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963 are intact and to be accorded to us based on the spirit of the formation of Malaysia by the three sovereign States of Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak- no less and no more,” he said.
“We should decide what and where we want to be and not by someone else, who has no or little knowledge about our needs as well as our ‘adat’ and beliefs and a plural society like Sarawak,” he stressed.
The assistant minister said Sarawak has been unfairly treated as reflected in the present Federal Cabinet line-up and is being regarded as little brother by federal ministers and treated as subservient to their bigger brothers in the peninsula.
He said the cancellation of many rural-based and peoplecentric projects is another clear example of such maltreatment, which would have far-reaching implications on the livelihood of the rural communities in Sarawak.
It is his hope that Sarawakians stand united in solidarity to ensure a better Sarawak in years to come, and warned of the perils of failing to keep one’s feet on the ground.