GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) does not need outside help in the Sarawak elections because the coalition’s leaders are more than capable of securing the mandate of the people, said Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan.

Thus, he said BN will not be deploying its election machinery in the polls.

“But if there is a need for BN leaders to help, we are always there. But at the moment, no, because we think that the leadership of GPS is capable enough on its own to manage these elections and gain the trust of the people of Sarawak,” he said.

He said this at a media conference today in Kuching which was attended by Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan.

Mohamed said the BN leaders were in Sarawak to lend moral support to Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg, the leader of GPS.

He said this is the first time that BN, of which Umno is the backbone, is not officially participating in the Sarawak elections.

“I hope the people of Sarawak will give a big mandate to GPS in this election. There must be stability if we want development and prosperity,” he said.

Mohamad said the BN logo is not to be used in the election campaign.

BN will lodge a report with the Election Commission if any political party or individual uses the coalition’s symbol in their campaigns, he said.

“Apart from GPS, we do not have any parties who are friendly with Barisan Nasional. So we do not allow anyone to use the dacing (scales) symbol because BN is not participating in the Sarawak elections,” he added.

GPS component parties previously contested under the BN banner but they left the federal coalition after the 2018 general election.

Monday is nomination day, early voting is on December 14, and polling, December 18. – Bernama, December 4, 2021.