WHAT Malaysia needs now is a stable government to revive an economy hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, said Abang Johari Openg in a jab at politicians in the peninsula.

“To be the next prime minister is secondary.

“What we need now is a stable government at the federal level. We still have a lot of challenges,” the Sarawak chief minister told reporters after the groundbreaking for a 3.6km road in Kg Segedup today.

He did not name any politician in particular.

Abang Johari was asked if he has again been approached by peninsula-based parties seeking Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) support to realise their ambition of having a prime minister from among their ranks.

On June 20, he refused to meet Anwar Ibrahim, who made a hushed trip to Kuching via a private jet.

According to sources, the PKR president was hoping to meet the chief minister and persuade him to secure GPS’ support for Anwar as the prime minister candidate.

Three days later, Abang Johari said the people are more important than scrambling for the top job.

Today, he said the pandemic is not yet over, and the economy needs rescuing.

“We need a focused leadership to manage all these problems. Why do they have to be bothered about being prime minister?

“Let (Prime Minister) Muhyiddin (Yassin) do the job since he is already there.

“Why must they be so ‘sibuk’ (bothered) to become the next prime minister?” – June 30, 2020.