GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) is in no position to assume the seat of prime minister, its chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today, dispelling speculation that the coalition has sought the post as a condition to help bring down the present government.
“GPS has only 23 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. Even if the so-called Dubai Move got rid of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from the prime minister’s post and offers it to GPS, I am not stupid enough to think I am qualified to take up the post.
“I know where I stand. GPS only has 23 MPs. How can we take over the PM post?” said Abang Johari, who is the premier of Sarawak.
He said that claims of GPS being involved in any plot aimed at trying to overthrow the current government do not make practical sense.
The coalition has pledged its support to the unity government under Anwar, he stressed.
“We want to see it work and to see the unity government govern the full term,” he said during a dialogue session at Satok Hikmah assembly hall in Kuching.
Johari also reiterated that GPS has never harboured plans to quit Malaysia or is not taken by the notion that Sarawak can gain independence from Malaysia.
“It is not possible for Sarawak to just leave Malaysia and form an independent country,” he said.
“There are certain quarters in this state that want to see Sarawak get out of Malaysia. We in GPS are not part of any such move.”
GPS’ aim of trying to regain the state’s rights does not mean that it wants to get out of Malaysia.
“We just want to get back those rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) that we had lost over the years to the federal side.
“We want to see this happen so that Sarawak can be in a stronger position to prosper.
“When Sarawak prospers, Malaysia as a country will also prosper,” he said.
Abang Johari also spoke at length about the state’s economic plans as he enters his seventh year in the premier’s office.
On January 2, Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) had said that GPS has no reason to back any plotters who may be trying to wrest Putrajaya as the ruling government has been fair towards the state in terms of trying to give back its rights under MA63.
Its information chief Senator Abun Sui Anyit said Anwar, who is PH national chairman, has shown sincerity in wanting to give back the rights of Sarawak as was originally agreed upon under MA63.
Reports of a plot dubbed the “Dubai Move” has made headlines recently, with claims that the opposition leaders involved have offered Abang Johari the prime minister’s post if GPS sides with them.
Johari had met Anwar at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya on December 23. He gave an assurance that GPS would not entertain any move to replace the current federal government. – The Vibes, January 14, 2024
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