SIBU: The spirit of inclusiveness among component parties will ensure Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) victory in all the 31 parliamentary seats at stake in the 15th General Election, says Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

       “Political stability is important and we must also safeguard our unity. So for us in GPS, we must win all the parliamentary seats in GE15,” he said.

       GPS comprises the local parties of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

       In the previous general election, Sarawak Barisan Nasional won 19 parliamentary seats in Sarawak via PBB (13 seats), SUPP (one), PRS (three seats) and PDP (two).

       (One of the PRS MPs – Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat – later jumped ship to Opposition Parti Sarawak Bersatu. But he quit PSB last month and declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.)

       Speaking at the launch of PRS’ 5th Triennial Delegates Conference yesterday, Abang Johari said: “We work together. PBB helps PDP. PDP helps PRS and PRS helps SUPP.”

       GPS, in aiming to take all the seats, only wanted the voice of the state to be heard as it was not eyeing to be the kingmaker that decided who ruled the country, he said.

       He said that GPS was ready for GE15.

       “We don’t know when the election will take place but we in GPS are always ready just like in the last state election. We are ready but ‘secara diam diam” (quietly). No need to tell the whole world about it. We will just continue to work for the people,” he said.

       Abang Johari, who is GPS president, said the four parties would “paddle the boat in the same rhythm” towards the state’s 2030 development agenda.

       PRS president Datuk Joseph Salang said in his speech that the GPS should look into the imbalance in the positions in the state civil service with a limited number of Dayak holding high posts.

       “PRS would like to suggest that the GPS government seriously look into ways to improve Dayak participation to reflect the population composition of Sarawak,” he said.