APRIL 2022
Sarawak’s Coalition Wants Stable Federal Govt But Refuses To Say Who It Will Back In Next Election
By Lim Ai Leen (Deputy Foreign Editor, Straits Times, Singapore)
SINGAPORE - Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) wants a stable federal government, according to the premier and chairman of the ruling coalition in the east Malaysian state.
But Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, during an interview with The Straits Times on Wednesday (April 27), remained tight-lipped on which camp GPS would back at the next general election.
He said that while the recent wins by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Melaka and Johor state elections were positive, the outcome in a general election remained uncertain because voter sentiment differed at state and national levels.
GPS is an ally of the current federal government which is made up of the Umno-led BN and other parties.
"As far as GPS is concerned we want a stable federal government, so the whole country can move forward," said Mr Abang Johari, 71, who is regarded in the country as a political heavyweight.
Malaysia's political landscape has been fractured since the last general election in 2018, when BN lost power for the first time since independence.
Party defections and shifting alliances have resulted in four different prime ministers in as many years.
GPS and its 18 MPs currently support Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's administration which not only comprises his own party Umno but also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Islam SeMalaysia.
Datuk Seri Ismail governs with a slim majority of 116 seats in Malaysia's 222-seat Parliament.
The opposition controls 103 seats, 90 of which are held by Pakatan Harapan.
Two seats lie vacant currently, while one MP, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, has said he supports neither Mr Ismail nor the opposition.
Sarawak, which contributes 31 lawmakers to Parliament, has always been a crucial vote bank for power at the federal level.
More so now when a party or a handful of MPs can trigger a no-confidence vote just by switching their loyalties.
This was last seen when Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, president of Bersatu, was forced from office, becoming Malaysia's shortest-serving prime minister, after some Umno lawmakers decided to pull their support from him in August last year.
Kingmakers like GPS therefore could play a crucial role if the next general election, which needs to be held only by Sept 2023 but is expected as soon as this year, results in a hung Parliament.
But Mr Abang Johari, who is also president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, is holding his cards close to his chest.
"Leaders of Pakatan Harapan have been my friends too," he said of the opposition pact. "Let's see how it goes."
Historically, parties in GPS have had close ties with BN, having been members of the Umno-led coalition and helped it secure strong majorities in previous elections.
GPS left the coalition after BN lost in the 2018 poll.
Mr Abang Johari said that GPS by breaking away was no longer bound by BN's consensus decision-making, noting that it had gained more leverage to pursue Sarawak's priorities with the federal government.
These included the push to be recognised as a founding region of Malaysia and not just one of the 13 states in the country, to receive a larger share of revenues derived from its oil fields and to ramp up infrastructure development.
Sumber dari : Sarawakku