GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS), which has 18 MPs, is backing Dr Mahathir Mohamad to continue as prime minister, the state ruling coalition’s secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi said.

GPS’s support was officially conveyed by Sarawak Chief Minister and GPS president Abang Johari Openg to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Dr Mahathir in an audience with the king at the palace on Sunday.

“Our stand is for Dr Mahathir to continue leading the country,” said Linggi, who is also Kapit MP, adding the coalition was unanimous in its decision.

GPS is made up of four Sarawak parties: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the lead party; Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS); Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

They used to belong to Barisan Nasional (BN) but pulled out of the coalition when the BN was defeated in the 2018 general election.

Meanwhile in Putrajaya, Abang Johari was seen arriving at the Prime Minister’s Office just before 4pm, where Dr Mahathir is back at work on his first day as interim prime minister.

At Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur, GPS MPs were seen arriving at the palace, where all MPs are due to have personal interviews with the king on who they support as PM.

Among those seen arriving between 3.25pm and 3.30pm were Nancy Shukry (Batang Sadong), Fadillah Yusof (Putrajaya) and Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong).

Linggi’s statement only made reference to supporting Dr Mahathir as prime minister and not joining any particular bloc.

The media mistakenly reported that GPS MPs had attended a pro-Dr Mahathir dinner held at the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya last night, which was also attended by Umno, PAS, Bersatu and MPs in the Azmin Ali faction of PKR.

The Dayak National Congress (DNC) has warned GPS against aligning itself with Maufakat Nasional – which comprises PAS and Umno – over concerns about the Islamist PAS.

DNC president Paul Raja said GPS should not make any wrong move by tying itself with peninsula-based parties or be punished by voters in the impending Sarawak election. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 25, 2020.