SARAWAK Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today repeated his call to let Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim complete his five-year term as prime minister, reported the New Straits Times.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman noted there were certain quarters that were too preoccupied with talking about replacing Anwar as the prime minister in the media.
"Why need to replace him when his term has not ended yet?" he asked at a press conference after visiting the Sarawak Civil Service Centre at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Kuching.
He also questioned why the need to fight for power when the current term of the federal government is not over.
He said the unity government should be allowed to do its work and discharge its responsibilities to the people.
"If people are unhappy with us, then (they should) wait for the general election," he said, adding: "But at this moment, don't."
Asked about the progress of talks on the takeover of MASWings from the Malaysian Aviation Group (MAG), Abang Johari said an agreement should have been signed by the end of last month.
"But it seems that there is a problem with the valuation of assets that we should pay MAG, the parent company of MASWings. They (MAG) have their figure, and we have ours.
"At the moment we are in the process of deciding on the right figure," he said.
"The buyer is the state government and we have accountability when we purchase things."
"As long as we follow procedures and the price is reasonable, which has been evaluated by a third party, then we can go ahead. We only need the evaluation from the third party," he said.
Abang Johari said other matters have been resolved with MAG.
"I expect the agreement to be signed possibly in January or February or the first quarter of this year," he said, adding that the takeover of assets also included the management of all airports in Sarawak, including ground handling.
He said he has a name for the new airline, but will only reveal it after the take-over is complete. - January 5, 2025
