Sarawak forms own ‘Shadow Cabinet’

PETALING JAYA: The new Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, comprising four parties from the state, has come up with its own version of a “Shadow Cabinet”.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the coalition had appointed its lawmakers to monitor the 27 ministries.

“Each MP will shadow the ministries that are important to ensure that there is continuous development for Sarawak. Some MPs will monitor two ministries,” said Fadillah, who is also Petra Jaya MP.

There are 19 lawmakers in total representing GPS. They come from PBB, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party.

The four parties were previously part of Barisan Nasional, but pulled out on June 12 to form GPS, which is an independent coalition.

Asked who would be holding the coveted post of monitoring the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Fadillah did not comment.

He however said PBB’s Batang Lupar lawmaker Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim had been proposed as the woman shadow candidate for the Deputy Prime Minister’s role.

Rohani was previously the Women, Family and Community Development Minister under the previous Barisan government.

The GPS coalition is expected to be officially launched today in conjunction with Sarawak Day.