KUCHING — The Sarawak government has unanimously agreed to leave Barisan Nasional (BN) to form a new coalition of Sarawak-based parties known as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg announced on Tuesday (June 12).

The coalition will comprise Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

“The decision to leave was made after much deliberation, reflection and due consideration, taking into account the country’s political development post 14th general election,” Mr Abang Johari, who is also PBB president, told reporters.

The move by the Sarawak government will shave 19 parliamentary seats from the 79 that BN won during the May 9 general election, further weakening the coalition that had ruled Malaysia for more than six decades.

Mr Abang Johari also said GPS will cooperate and collaborate with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government on issues of "national interest and state rights".

“We believe that it is timely and appropriate for Sarawak to embark on a new political platform, going forward, in order to face challenges, in line with the changing aspirations, needs and demands of a very wide range of cross-section of Sarawak’s populace, being a multi-racial, multi-culture and multi-religious state.

“We strongly believe that the formation of this new coalition will enable and empower us to serve the people better in line with the aspirations and fulfilling the desires of the people of Sarawak,” he said.

The announcement was welcomed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who noted that it will give the ruling PH government an additional boost in Parliament.

“They are not members of Harapan but they have pledged their support for the Harapan government so now we have a very strong support in Parliament,” Dr Mahathir said in a news conference from Tokyo where he is currently on a three-day visit.

Mr Abang Johari said the four parties are confident that the formation of GPS is the most pragmatic and appropriate decision to bring Sarawak into a new era desired by Sarawakians.

He declined to comment if scandals involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad and allegations of corruption implicating former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak are the reasons for the four Sarawak ruling parties’ departure from BN.

He also denied meeting acting United Malays National Organisation (Umno) president Ahmad Zahid Hamid ahead of their withdrawal.

Umno is the lynchpin party of BN.

“I don’t know how the media could come up with that story. It was fake news,” he said, adding that he only met Dr Mahathir after the national polls.

During his meeting with Dr Mahathir on May 31, Abang Johari was reportedly to have informed the premier of Sarawak's decision to leave BN, and assured the latter that the Borneon state would support the Pakatan Harapan government in "matters of Sarawak's interests and in the interest of Malaysia as a whole". AGENCIES