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MIRI – Sarawak’s opposition outfit Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has trained its guns on both Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) during its campaign at the parliament seat, here and in Sibu as well.
The party’s candidate for Miri Datuk Lawrence Lai called out both coalitions over their apparent obsession with the posts of prime minister and deputy prime minister instead of trying to uplift the lives of Sarawakians.
“GPS and PH leaders keep going on and on about wanting to see a Sarawakian become deputy prime minister following the 15th general election (GE15).
“They are already talking about who will be the next prime minister, about who will form the next coalition government in Putrajaya.
“GPS had up to 14 ministers and deputy ministers in the last federal cabinet but look at us ordinary Sarawakians who are struggling with high costs of living, lack of basic facilities and public amenities in rural areas, expensive housing, high transportation costs and many other daily difficulties.
“GPS had failed to protect the interest of ordinary Sarawakians despite claiming they are kingmakers.
“When in power for 22 months, PH also failed to address the many problems afflicting ordinary Sarawakians.
“They too were obsessed with posts and power,” Lai said to the media following his campaign trail in the city to greet the constituents.
Lai, a senior lawyer and former Miri Mayor, and his team were moving around on their PSB mobile lorry.
He is facing GPS candidate Jeffery Phang and PKR’s Chiew Choon Man in the constituency which has up to 143,000 voters.
PKR’s Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng had won Miri for the past two terms but he was not retained as the party’s candidate for GE15.
Meanwhile in Sibu, PSB’s Sibu candidate and party president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh told reporters today that GPS had always been under the control of Umno.
“During the Budget 2023, Sarawak was given only 1.5% of the total amount of allocations given to states throughout the country.
“This sad amount for Sarawak was despite GPS all the time saying it is the kingmaker.
“After the budget was tabled, all the GPS leaders said they are happy with the budget allocations.
“They dare not stand up to their Umno partners, so what kingmakers are they?
“PH now is harping on wanting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
“Anwar did a lot of harm to Chinese education when he was Education Minister in Umno,” said Wong.
PH, he said, had also failed to give national recognition to the Unified Examination Certificate from Chinese schools during the time they were in power.
Wong said GPS is now busy planning on making either Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi or Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the next prime minister while PH wants Anwar in that top post.
“All of them have not spoken about what they can do to stop the fall of the ringgit, the sharp hike in inflation...,” he said.
Sibu is seeing Wong taking on GPS candidate Clarence Ting who is also the Sibu Municipal Council chairman and DAP incumbent Oscar Ling who is also Sarawak DAP’s campaign director. – The Vibes, November 8, 2022
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