KUCHING: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and PAS will sit out the coming Sarawak state election, but will assist the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, says Tan Sri James Masing (pic).
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said this was conveyed by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang during a meeting of party heads under the Perikatan Nasional government in Putrajaya on Wednesday (July 1).
"Sarawak was assured by Muhyiddin and Hadi that although both parties have their branches in Sarawak, they will not contest the state election.
"This assurance will not only clear the way for GPS to fight the opposition head-on but is a good sign that Perikatan component parties respect and honour their commitments to assist GPS when the state election is called," Masing said in a statement Thursday (July 2).
PRS is one of four component parties in GPS, along with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Sarawak's next state election is due in mid-2021 but there is speculation that it could be called this year.
Masing said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg told the meeting that the state election was "just around the corner" and GPS was ready for it.
He said Abang Johari also reiterated GPS' support for Muhyiddin as Prime Minister and would give him full support to lead Perikatan in the 15th General Election.
However, Masing said it was important for any historical and personality differences within Perikatan, especially between Bersatu and Umno, to be ironed out before GE15.
"I'm confident these technical details among Perikatan parties will be solved, the sooner the better. If not, there is a danger that Perikatan may not only lose the internal battle but the war of GE15 in the end," he said.
Masing added that a common factor among the Perikatan parties was their objection to DAP being part of the coalition.
"In this respect, MCA needs to strengthen itself to fight for the Chinese communities in Malaysia," he said.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said this was conveyed by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang during a meeting of party heads under the Perikatan Nasional government in Putrajaya on Wednesday (July 1).
"Sarawak was assured by Muhyiddin and Hadi that although both parties have their branches in Sarawak, they will not contest the state election.
"This assurance will not only clear the way for GPS to fight the opposition head-on but is a good sign that Perikatan component parties respect and honour their commitments to assist GPS when the state election is called," Masing said in a statement Thursday (July 2).
PRS is one of four component parties in GPS, along with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Sarawak's next state election is due in mid-2021 but there is speculation that it could be called this year.
Masing said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg told the meeting that the state election was "just around the corner" and GPS was ready for it.
He said Abang Johari also reiterated GPS' support for Muhyiddin as Prime Minister and would give him full support to lead Perikatan in the 15th General Election.
However, Masing said it was important for any historical and personality differences within Perikatan, especially between Bersatu and Umno, to be ironed out before GE15.
"I'm confident these technical details among Perikatan parties will be solved, the sooner the better. If not, there is a danger that Perikatan may not only lose the internal battle but the war of GE15 in the end," he said.
Masing added that a common factor among the Perikatan parties was their objection to DAP being part of the coalition.
"In this respect, MCA needs to strengthen itself to fight for the Chinese communities in Malaysia," he said.
