GPS ready for GE15, election machinery formed, says Premier
KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is ready to face the coming 15th General Election (GE15) as one team even if a snap polls is called this year, said its chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
"We just prepare (for it). Just like preparing for exams, you (would) prepare (yourself) at least two years before that," he told a press conference a er chairing the GPS Supreme Council meeting last night.
Earlier, the Sarawak Premier said GPS has formed its election machinery and the coalition has included women and youth chiefs from its four component parties as GPS supreme council members, due to the major roles of these women and youth wings.
"We do not know when is the election but we have formed our machinery. Of course we want to give a stronger voice from Sarawak to enable us to play a big role at the national level.
"There are two to three ma ers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) still under discussion for us to defend the special position of Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
He also mentioned it will be the first time GPS is contesting a parliamentary election as a coalition of Sarawak parties.
"GPS is of the view that the country's political stability is important so that we can give effective service to the people. GPS will contribute to that stability," he said.
To a question, Abang Johari said GPS will maintain the status quo of seats allocated to its component parties for GE15.
"GPS is one team. When the ball is there, we get ready to kick it. (It is the spirit of) Sarawak First," he added.
The current seat allocation for the 31 seats contested by GPS is 14 seats for Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), seven for Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), six for Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and four for Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Asked on the outstanding ma ers under MA63 still being pursued by GPS, the Premier said this included the restoration of the 35 per cent parliamentary seats from East Malaysia which was endorsed by the Special Council on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MKMA63) during its recent meeting.
"In principle they have agreed, but this has to be discussed again in the federal cabinet. Later on if they agree, then further action has to be done.”
He also said other outstanding ma ers include administrative arrangement on certain departments such as health and education.
"Even though heath is now under federal, we want certain empowerment to be given to the state government for us to manage. Education as well," he said.
He added another outstanding ma er being pursued is the Borneonisation of the civil service, which is contained in the Inter-Governmental Commi ee (IGC) Report 1962.