TWO months after its registration as a political coalition was approved, the four-party Gabungan Parti Sarawak unveiled its logo today in a simple ceremony at the Kuching headquarters of the coalition’s lead party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

The logo will be used by the coalition – better known by its acronym GPS and whose other members are Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Sarawak United People’s Party, and Progressive Democratic Party – in the coming state election in 2021.

The four parties were formerly part of the defeated Barisan Nasional coalition.

They, however, dumped the coalition soon after the May 9 general election.

In keeping with GPS’ slogan “Sarawak First”, PBB president and Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg reiterated its aim of full compliance with Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“It’s a historic moment that four homegrown parties came together to spearhead the future of the state,” Abang Johari said in his brief address at the unveiling.

He said like the protected bird of the logo, the hornbill, the state and its people need to have its rights in MA63 restored and defended by “people who know them best”.

“GPS will defend these rights like how we defend the hornbill,” Abang Johari said.

The hornbill is a protected bird in the state.

The logo was designed by a 20 year-old software engineering student of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur.

Voon Cherng Jyh, who said he has no interest in politics but took part “as designing logos is my hobby”, said he picked the hornbill “because it’s a natural thing to do”.

“When I saw the word Sarawak (in the participation form), I immediately thought of the hornbill.”

The three colours of the stylised hornbill, soaring up to the sky, are black, red, and white.

According to Abang Johari, the black symbolises the pillar of the coalition in upholding its objectives; the red mirrors the supremacy of the constitution, while the white represents the rule of law.

Voon, the youngest of three children of a Kota Sentosa sundry shop owner, took RM10,000 in prize money.

He said he will use the money to finance his education, with a portion for his parents and another to go to charity. – January 9, 2019.