GPS WILL SUPPORT UNITY GOVT TILL NEXT GENERAL ELECTION - ABANG JO 

KUCHING, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will continue to support the Unity Government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim till the next general election.

GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the support was important to ensure stability that will allow the Unity Government to rule with better focus.

“We give you (Anwar) full support and have a stable federal government until the next election,” the Sarawak Premier said during his speech at the national level Malaysia Day 2023 celebrations in Unity Stadium here tonight, which was attended by Anwar, Acting Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and other dignitaries.

Abang Johari said that although Sarawak and Sabah were pursuing several matters, especially under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), it did not mean that both states could not work together with those in Peninsula Malaysia for the good of the country.

“The setting up of the Unity Government is proof that differences are not obstacles to unity,” he said, adding that the GPS government in Sarawak was grateful to the Federal Government for its readiness to return Sarawak and Sabah rights as stipulated under the Federal Constitution and MA63.

Abang Johari said every Sarawakian desired that the rights and its special position in the Constitution and MA63 continued to be respected and implemented as agreed by leaders in 1963.

“Sarawak may be accused of being provincial where the demands are concerned by Sarawakians only want our rights and have no intention of seizing the rights of others,” he said, adding that Sept 16 and Aug 31 were equally important as both dates are irrevocably linked to the founding of the country.

“Personally, I don’t think we need to debate about those dates, but to focus on efforts to unify regions and bring our people together and ensure development is equally distributed in every region.

“Also, what’s important about Malaysia Day celebrations is to allow all Malaysians to be aware that our country exists from Kangar, till Kuching and to Kota Kinabalu in the east,” he added.

-- BERNAMA