KUALA LUMPUR – There were no negotiations between Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and other political coalitions prior to the appointment of Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister after the general election last November.
And GPS’ withdrawal of support for Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister was not partly due to the apology by DAP’s top brass during the power vacuum, said the Sarawak coalition’s Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is now one of the two deputy prime ministers.
No coalitions were able to secure a simple majority of 112 seats after polling day on November 19 as PH had 82, PN with 74, Barisan Nasional (30), GPS (23), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six), Warisan (three) and four independents.
Fadillah, one of four GPS representatives who met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong prior to Anwar’s appointment, told Malaysiakini that Muhyiddin and GPS chief Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg spoke over the phone when polling ended, which resulted in the coalition initially backing the PN chairman for the top job.
He also dismissed that GPS was “misled” by Muhyiddin as the PN leader submitted the names of 115 MPs backing him to Istana Negara.
“Eventually, things cropped up in ‘semenanjung’ (the peninsula) involving BN.
“They said they are not with Muhyiddin. There may be some members who are supporting (Muhyiddin) but as far as the supreme council is concerned, they are not backing him.”
Fadillah added that since there was no clear winner, the Agong expressed intentions for GPS to form a unity government without mentioning candidates for prime minister.
“GPS will respect whatever decision is made by the Agong and we will support the formation of a unity government for the sake of the nation’s stability,” he was quoted as saying.
On DAP’s apology to Abang Johari and Sarawak, Fadillah said it was a “good gesture” by party secretary-general Anthony Loke.
As for why the apology was not made by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Fadillah said: “That, you have to ask my premier. I was not involved in that. I don’t know.”
Following the appointment of Anwar as prime minister on November 24, the current unity government sees support from BN and GPS, among others, with PN remaining firmly in the opposition. – The Vibes, April 20, 2023
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