SARAWAK Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said he has not given any thought to the Umno-PAS Muafakat Nasional coalition.

“My mind is on Covid-19. We have to look after this Covid-19. That’s serious. Kuching is back in the red,” he said today, alluding to the district’s red-zone status.

He was commenting on the ruling state coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) stand on the grouping of Malay-Muslim parties after attending ceremonies to mark Kuching City Day.

The state is now is now trying to stem the second wave of Covid-19 infections, following a recent spike of cases.

Abang Johari said since he had not kept himself abreast with the developments in MN, he, therefore, would not want to offer any comment.

“I only know GPS. (So) I don’t want to say the wrong things.”

When asked if he is aware that GPS’ partner in the federal Perikatan Nasional Plus coalition, Bersatu, is planning to join the Umno-PAS grouping, Abang Johari asked: “Are you sure? Is that confirmed?

“Or is that a mere hearsay?”

He reiterated that as it stands now, GPS supports the PN Plus federal government and that is as far as it goes.

GPS is a coalition of four Sarawak parties – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

On Thursday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it will not be a part of Perikatan Nasional  despite forming a government with the ruling coalition.

Instead, he said, the party will work to strengthen MN, a pact it has with PAS, and which Bersatu wants to join. – August 1, 2020.