GE15: GPS keeping options open amid speculation of joining BN to form new govt

SIBU: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is keeping its options open and has not said who it will support to form the new government post GE-15, says GPS candidate for Sibu, Clarence Ting (pic).

"Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari has never said he is going with BN (Barisan Nasional). He said 'tunggu' (wait) till Nov 19, then we decide as we don't know the results of the election yet and the political situation in West Malaysia is also quite messy," said Ting in his ceramah on Wednesday night (Nov 16).

He added that Abang Jo did not look for Umno, but it was Umno who looked for him (to get GPS support to form the government).

Ting said this in reference to a report in a Chinese daily which said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob wants GPS to partner with BN after the election.

Explaining, Ting said Ismail Sabri's statement does not mean that GPS had agreed to it.

"This is just like a boy who likes a girl. He declares to the girl that he likes her, but the girl says I don't like you," said Ting, adding that Abang Jo has never said anything about partnering with BN, as the time has not come.

He said his two opponents - incumbent Oscar Ling (DAP) and Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (Parti Sarawak Bersatu) had also every other day said GPS is already with Umno.

"This is to scare you. Our Premier never said he is with Barisan. They, my two opponents, keep saying that," he added.

Ismail Sabri had on Nov 14 said at a press conference in Selangau following the opening of Pan Borneo Highway Selangau section that he was confident GPS would support BN to form the next government.

"We are confident of forming the new government with the support of GPS. Our cooperation with GPS is for certain. Though GPS is not in the coalition, we have a long history of understanding each other. We understand the aspiration of the people of Sarawak as we are close to them," he said.