MIRI – The setting up of a liaison office and a new line-up by Perikatan Nasional in Sarawak is seen as a direct attack on state ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
The move is poised to threaten GPS in the next Sarawak election, with seat allocation becoming more challenging.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan said it appears to be a “designed manoeuvre”.
“The move by Sarawak PN to set up an office in the state is a direct attack on GPS. It is trying to disrupt our seat allocation arrangements in our preparations for the next state election.
“PN at the national level had sought help from GPS to form the federal government, and we helped them. They should reciprocate our friendliness, not attack us,” he told reporters at the PRS office in Kuching.
Snowdan, who is also state youth and sports assistant minister, said GPS is adamant about not allowing PN to contest in the 12th Sarawak election.
“Leave Sarawak to GPS. We know our own state better than Malaya-based parties.”
State PN chairman Jaziri Suffian, in social media posts yesterday, declared the chapter an official entity, with office-bearers from Parti Bersatu Sarawak and Sarawak PAS.
“Sarawak PN has been set up as part of our efforts to support the state government in the development of Sarawak. We, Sarawak PN, have the ‘Vision for Joint Progress 2030’, which will be our theme for PN’s struggle for Sarawak.”
GPS, comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party, PRS and Progressive Democratic Party, has repeatedly said PN components like Bersatu, PAS and Umno will not be given seats to contest in the next state polls, and that it will field candidates in all of Sarawak’s 82 state constituencies.
PBB vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah told a press conference at his Kuching office two days ago that “there are no seats for PN”.
“GPS and PN are friends, and we work as partners at the national level. However, at the state level, GPS has its own candidates for the 12th state election. There will be no seats for PN parties to contest in Sarawak.
“PN are Malaya-based parties. In Sarawak, GPS knows the state better.”
He said GPS has identified potential candidates for the state election, and advised PN parties to refrain from lobbying for seats in Sarawak.
“PN parties must understand the local situation in Sarawak.”
Any lobbying by PN outfits to contest in the state polls will only cause a split between GPS and the peninsula-centric coalition, he said.
Sarawak is expected to call the state election soon, even as early as November
GPS controls 68 of Sarawak’s 82 state seats. – The Vibes, September 23, 2021
