Anglican bishop of Kuching urges GPS not to ally with Perikatan

KUCHING – Sarawakians continue to pressure ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) not to enter a pact with Perikatan Nasional (PN), of which Islamist party PAS is a member.

The Anglican Bishop of Kuching Datuk Danald Jute said he was adding his voice to that of other Sarawakians opposed to GPS teaming up with PN to form a new government.

“The majority of Sarawakians on the ground are opposed to this move.

“My position is, extremists cannot be allowed – let alone be encouraged and supported – to normalise their hatred of other races and people of other faiths,” Danald told The Vibes.

“We cannot allow politicians to further divide us because harmony does not come naturally.

“Everyone needs to take an effort to build trust and acceptance between different ethnic and religious groups,” added the prelate.

Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Simon Poh, meanwhile, added that Sarawak must protect the harmony and mutual respect among ethnic groups in the state.

“Religious extremism and fundamentalism do not have a place here in Sarawak as well as in Malaysia,” he said.

GPS leader Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was quoted saying by Sin Chew Daily earlier today that the coalition still backs PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister.

The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu vice-president said GPS, which won 23 seats in the recent general election, had also submitted statutory declarations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the coalition’s MPs’ support for Muhyiddin.

In recent days, GPS had come under fire from Sarawakians for declaring its willingness to support PN due to PAS being a part of the coalition.

This led to GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg saying that the coalition would leave the choice of prime minister to the Agong.

GPS leaders were called to Istana Negara today for an audience with the king, who also met Barisan Nasional’s top leaders.

Yesterday, the king met PN’s Muhyiddin and Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. After the audience, Muhyiddin said the Agong had told PN to form a unity government with PH, but PN had rejected this.

If PN ends up forming the government with GPS’ support, Sarawakian activist Peter John Jaban said he would call for a silent protest among the Christian community.

Jaban, who founded the civil society group Saya Anak Sarawak, said church members will be asked to wear white on Friday and red on Sundays when they attend church and go out in public. – The Vibes, November 23, 2022