GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) is still behind Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, coalition chairman and Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said today, rubbishing allegations GPS has thrown its lot in with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to be the next prime minister.

Denying reports that several GPS MPs have defected to support the PKR president, Abang Johari said Anwar’s announcement he had acquired the support to remove Muhyiddin from office is baffling.

“The timing of the announcement is also weird,” he said, alluding to the Sabah election due to be held on Saturday.

“I said it on Malaysia Day and I will say it now: we are behind Muhyiddin Yassin,” Abang Johari told reporters, after chairing a state development co-ordination meeting in Serian, about 60km from Kuching today.

Abang Johari also trashed news reports that GPS was not happy over the value of the state sales tax on petroleum products.

“We are happy with the sales tax.”

He also denied any involvement in Anwar’s latest political manoeuvring to be prime minister.

“We look after ourselves. We must work for the people,” Abang Johari said.

“The (welfare of the) people is more important.”

Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing slammed Anwar for what he saw as an attempt to manipulate the Sabah polls.

“Very unbecoming of someone who wants to become prime minister to do that,” Masing, who was accompanying Abang Johari, said.

Masing, who is also a deputy chief minister, said he does not believe Sabah voters could be easily influenced and fall for Anwar’s trick.

When asked if Anwar had contacted him recently, Masing replied: “I won’t take his call”.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Abdul Karim Hamzah said the allegations that GPS were unhappy and jumping ship to support Anwar were rubbish.

Karim, the state Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, said the allegations are aimed at creating political uncertainty and instability.

“GPS is as strong as ever with Perikatan Nasional and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We are not easily swayed or pulled by our nose…. more so by the likes of Anwar.

“No amount of carrot dangling will sway GPS parties,” Karim posted on the GPS Facebook page.

Anwar today said he had a “strong, formidable and convincing” majority from MPs to change the federal government, but did not state the exact numbers when pressed several times by journalists.

He said he would only reveal the numbers after meeting Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

He said this meeting would be held “soon” given the king was an in-patient at the National Heart Institute. – September 23, 2020.