GE15: GPS wants more Sarawak representation in Cabinet after polls, says sec-gen

KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) wants greater representation in the Federal Cabinet after the 15th General Election (GE15) to uphold the state's interests.

GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said Sarawak needed a bigger voice in Cabinet to ensure equitable development and that Sarawakians' rights were not relegated to a lower priority.

"If in the previous Cabinet there were four Sarawakian ministers, GPS wants this to be increased to six or seven," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Nov 1).

Prior to Parliament's dissolution, the four Cabinet members from Sarawak were Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Nanta himself as Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister.

Nanta said Sarawak's voice in Cabinet should be increased for a bigger say in charting Malaysia's development in line with the Federal Government's Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.

He said development plans should be equitably implemented and not be window dressing only.

"Just like people in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawakians also want to enjoy development and basic amenities such as telecommunications, broadband services, road access, electricity, water and public transport, especially in rural areas," he said.

Nanta added that the gap between the peninsula and Sarawak could be bridged if the Cabinet focused on the state's interests in fine-tuning the Federal Government's development policies.

"As such, Sarawak's representation in the Cabinet is vital to ensure that the state is not neglected," he said.