KABONG, Nov 18 — Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today told the national coalitions to wait for the result of the 15th general election (GE1) to be announced before courting his group.
He said he has been informed that none of the national coalitions was projected to secure enough parliamentary seats in peninsular Malaysia to form the federal government by a simple majority.
“Whether they like it or not, they have to court GPS. If they want GPS, we will state that these are the things that we want the federal government to fulfil,” he said at the meet-the-people session at the Kabong petty traders centre here.
“As at 3.20pm today, the projection is that they are still unable to win enough seats and they want us to work with them,” he said.
Earlier today, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli urged GPS and PH to set aside any differences and cooperate following GE15 to form a stable administration together.
However, he said there were no official discussions between PH and GPS for now.
Similarly, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the Barisan Nasional would only discuss with GPS if it is able to secure at least 112 seats in the general election.
He said GPS will be the only party that BN will approach and the two were close and could discuss forming the next government jointly.
Abang Johari also urged the voters to ignore the identity of the candidate contesting in Saratok tomorrow.
“You must also look at his party. If his party comes from the other side, then you must think carefully,” he said, adding they must only support GPS and its candidate Giendam Jonathan Tait.
He also asked the voters not to look at the personality of the candidate alone, saying that some will always show smiling faces but their hearts are unknown while some will always look angry, but their hearts are good.
“Just like Tok Nan (former Sarawak chief minister the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem), his face did not know how to smile, but his heart was good,” he said.
He said he has told Giendam to smile when meeting people, but insisted the latter always meant well.
Saratok is being contested by Giendam Jonathan Tait of GPS, Datuk Ali Biju of Perikatan Nasional and Ibil Jaya of Pakatan Nasional.
