(By Robert Kenneth Anak Henry)
KUCHING — Now that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has been registered, the path ahead is clear for the coalition of four Sarawak-based political parties to move ahead in what they may regard as a new era in Sarawak politics.
Their objective, of course, will be to win the next state election, the 12th, which becomes due in 2021.
GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB); Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP); Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), all of which quit the Barisan Nasional (BN) after the defeat of the BN in the 14th general election on May 9.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the Registrar of Societies (RoS) has approved the registration of GPS and that the official letter will be issued in the next few days.
Political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaya, said the GPS registration shows that RoS under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is allowing equal opportunities on a level playing field for all political parties.
Azman said: “GSP will be harping on local issues, like the Malaysia Agreement 1963, petroleum royalty and Sarawak autonomy to gain the people’s support and win votes in the next state election.
“This alliance will also try to prove that only local parties can understand Sarawak needs and the local problems,” he said to Bernama.
Another political analyst, Datuk Peter Minos, said GPS will first have to promote and propagate GPS among Sarawakians, especially the rural folk.
Secondly, it has to erase BN from the people’s minds although it is not an easy task because BN has been around for a long, long time, he said.
“Thirdly, GPS must start cracking now as there is no time to waste as the (state) election is coming in 2021,” said Minos, adding that he believes PKR and also DAP are out to topple GPS in the next state election although it will not be a walk in the park for them.
He said GPS should carry on developing and protecting Sarawak as well as get back the Malaysia Agreement 1963 powers and more money from Putrajaya and Petronas.
— BERNAMA
