MIRI – A Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) senior leader has shot down a claim by Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s (PBK) chief that the state government may turn Sarawak into a sultanate.
Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah characterised the statement by Voon Lee Shan that GPS could soon change the status of the governor (Tuan Yang Terutama) into that of a “sultan” as being totally “crazy”.
Karim, who is vice-president of GPS's main component Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu today said he does not know where Voon got the notion from.
“Voon claimed that the GPS could soon abuse its position to turn Sarawak into a sultanate,” Karim said. “Where in the world did he come up with that crazy idea?”
“There is no way we in the state government can just change the status of TYT (Tuan Yang Terutama, an honorific for the governor) into “sultan” or turn Sarawak into a sultanate.
“Voon is a senior lawyer. He should not be making such crazy allegations,” Karim told reporters after a function in Kuching city today.
Voon, in his earlier statement today, made the sultanate claim while saying that Sarawak is lacking in an opposition voice.
“Sarawakians are concerned that GPS could turn the TYT into sultan and make this state a sultanate.
“The majority of Sarawakians are non-Malays and we are worried,” he claimed.
PBK is challenging GPS in the Jepak state constituency by-election in Bintulu district in northern Sarawak.
Aspirasi is also contesting in the upcoming Jepak state by-election.
Jepak will see a three-cornered fight, with GPS candidate Iskandar Turkee taking on Aspirasi’s Chieng Lea Phing and PBK’s Stevenson Sumbang. The latter two are underdogs.
Voters comprise mostly Malays and Melanau (54%), while Ibans make up 35%, Chinese 6% and the rest Orang Ulu, Bidayuh and other minority ethnic voters.
Early voting is on October 31 while polling will be on November 4..
The by-election is being held following the demise of assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip, who was from PBB, on September 15. – The Vibes, October 24, 2023
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