MIRI – All 18 MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) are backing a single individual to be the next prime minister.
GPS chief whip and Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof today said the individual chosen is the only candidate on GPS’ radar, and there is no other candidate supported by the GPS.
“All GPS MPs made the same declaration of support for him.
“A total of 17 GPS MPs and Lubok Antu independent Jugah Muyang had an online video-conferencing audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong this morning from a hotel.
“Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Progressive Democratic Party president) personally went to Istana Negara for an audience with the Agong.
“All GPS MPs declared support only for one person,” Fadillah told reporters in Kuching.
GPS MPs were the first to have an audience with the king to confirm their choice for the next prime minister.
The Vibes yesterday reported that GPS had decided the coalition would throw its support behind Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to become the next prime minister.
Sources in a GPS party told The Vibes yesterday that the ruling state government coalition will not support the opposition bloc’s choice of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“All this while, GPS has made known its clear stance that it is friendly to Perikatan Nasional.
“Ismail Sabri, who is from Umno, is part of the Perikatan Nasional government, so GPS will support him.
“Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg (GPS chairman) is not going to rock the boat and support Anwar,” the source had said.
The source added that, even though no one person or party has the majority in Parliament to form the next federal government, PN appears to hold an advantage.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) information chief Adam Yii had told The Vibes recently that “for now, we in GPS maintain the status quo of being friendly to PN”.
SUPP is part of the GPS coalition.
The other GPS components are PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party.
Yii had said GPS is maintaining its stand of supporting PN and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, which was decided on prior to the latter’s resignation as prime minister.
Muhyiddin is presently serving as the interim prime minister pending the confirmation of the next prime minister by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. – The Vibes, August 19, 2021
