SARAWAK Premier Abang Johari Openg said there were approaches made by political blocs in the peninsular seeking the assistance of the state ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak, in the formation of the Federal government after general election.

He however, did not state which political blocs had approached the four-party coalition made up of his Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), the Sarawak United People’s Party (Supp) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

“We’ll see. No decision yet. Still in the courting stage,” he told reporters after chairing the GPS leadership council meeting in Kuching late this afternoon.

GPS secretary-general, Alexander Nanta Linggi, on Wednesday had said the coalition will wait until after the election to decide who it wants to cooperate with.

However, the cooperation is on the condition that it guarantees political stability.

Abang Johari had earlier chaired the PBB supreme council meeting.

On GPS’ preparation for the general election, he said the allocation of seats had been agreed on but still undecided on some candidates.

He had in the GPS leadership council meeting in the middle of last month, stated the allocation remained the same as in the 2018 election.

That means PBB will contest 14 seats, SUPP seven, PRS six and PDP four.

Abang Johari gave nothing away on who will be dropped or who the new faces are even though speculation is rife that PBB is dropping one while two others have opted to step down.

In the coming election, GPS’ first on its own, it will contest under the platform of “Sarawak First”.

“We need a strong voice in parliament, Abang Johari said, adding that he is confident the coalition would be given a new mandate that would allow ‘us to play a more prominent role in formulating national policies’”.

He said a strong voice is needed to resolve the unresolved issue pertaining to Sarawak’s rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Among the issues is the special grants and assignments of revenue to Sarawak.

Abang Johari had rejected Putrajaya’s proposal for a fixed amount.

As Sarawak is a major contributor to the nation’s coffer, Abang Johari had counter proposed that the amount be calculated on a formula the state had submitted for consideration. – October 18, 2022.