KUCHING, Nov 24 — Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has agreed to join Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government, Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.
The GPS chairman said this was in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice to the coalition during the audience he granted to the delegation led by GPS chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
“GPS wishes to comply with the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in accordance with entrusted power to him under the Federal Constitution,” Abang Johari, who is the state premier, told reporters after chairing the GPS supreme council meeting at the PBB headquarters here.
Abang Johari said it was the prime minister’s prerogative to form the Cabinet, but with an eye on the Agong’s advice for unity.
He said he has already spoken to Anwar about his coalition’s support, but declined to divulge the details beyond saying GPS did not impose any conditions for its participation in the coalition government to be formed.
“We are loyal to the constitutional monarchy.”
When asked if GPS would request for a deputy prime minister’s post for Sarawak, he said this would be decided later, but noted that his coalition’s 23 MPs made it one of the larger blocs in support of Anwar’s government.
Abang Johari added that he was unsure if Anwar would have been able to form the next government had GPS not decided to support him.
“But the Yang diPertuan Agong wants to have a very strong federal government,” Abang Johari said.
