BINTULU - Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has welcomed Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) to be part of its Jepak by-election campaign machinery though PSB is still legally an opposition party in Sarawak.
PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh is the opposition leader in the state legislative assembly.
GPS election director Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan today said the PSB team was already in Jepak to work with GPS to ensure the ruling state government secures a landslide victory.
"We welcome any other parties outside of GPS who want to assist GPS.
"The PSB team is here. Even on nomination day, the PSB team was on the side of GPS and they accompanied our candidate too.
"We in GPS accept any other party with an open heart that is willing to help GPS ensure a big victory.
"We also welcome any of the unity government partners in Putrajaya who may want to send their team to campaign with GPS in Jepak," he told reporters after making his rounds in the constituency with GPS candidate Iskandar Turkee.
Tengah, who is Deputy Premier and deputy president of GPS component Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, said anyone having the same vision as GPS can be in the party’s Jepak team, just like PSB.
PSB has officially announced that it is supporting GPS and that it wants to merge with GPS component party, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
On July 13, Wong and other PSB leaders met PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing in Kuala Lumpur and inked a deal to form a partnership with each other at the state and national levels.
PSB has three seats in the 82-seat state legislative assembly, DAP two, and one independent in Batu Lintang, while GPS holds 76 seats.
However, State Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Awang Asfia Awang Nassar said PSB will remain seated on the opposition bloc in the assembly and will not be included among the state government ruling bloc.
Tengah today also said GPS will reveal its manifesto for Jepak soon.
"The focus of the manifesto will be on the future development of the constituency," he said.
Iskandar is in a three-cornered fight with Aspirasi candidate Chieng Lea Phing and Parti Bumi Kenyalang candidate Stevenson Sumbang for the seat.
Early voting is on Oct 31 and polling on Nov 4. - The Vibes, October 23, 2023
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