SARAWAK Premier Abang Johari Openg has denied claims that an agreement has been reached for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to support Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) in forming the new federal government if BN falls short of the simple majority it needs.

“I don’t know (about it),” he told reporters when asked to comment on a news report by a national Malay-language daily that stated Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the matter had been agreed upon between the two parties in a recent meeting.

“I don’t know that one. I just read it.” 

In Lawas for a Sarawakku Sayang programme today, Abang Johari told reporters that he won’t comment on the report as “there’s nothing (to it)”. 

Ahmad was quoted by the daily as saying that in the meeting between the leaders of the two parties, the leaders of the state’s four-party ruling coalition “did not reject the proposal of GPS working with BN as long as BN is the dominant party”. 

The four components of GPS are Abang Johari’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United People’s Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, and Progressive Democratic Party. 

Ahmad said with the 112 seats BN is confident of winning and GPS’ target of winning 25 (out of the 31 seats in the state), “surely we can form a strong government”.

In a separate interview with Astro Awani last night, Ahmad reiterated that “we (BN) will be with GPS” when asked about BN’s plans if it fails to secure the simple majority needed to form the new government.

“We hope GPS would want to be with us. We have been friends for a long time,” he said. – November 8, 2022.