Umno okay with GPS being just close friends

Barisan Nasional respects the decision of Gabungan Parti Sarawak not to join BN as a component and remain “close friends” instead.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the GPS stand had been mentioned during a meeting between GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg and BN leaders, including deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan and himself.

“He (Abang Johari) did state during our meeting of their decision (three years ago) for GPS parties not to join BN but they said they will be close friends with BN.

“They (GPS) used Sarawak First as their slogan, meaning they want Sarawak to be governed by the state’s parties. So, we respect their view,” he told reporters after a constituency event here. Ahmad is MP for Pontian.

“We appreciate (GPS’) friendship and when we win, BN wins … hopefully in the 15th general election (in) the peninsula and Sabah … of course, we will invite GPS to join the federal government when the time comes.

“It means BN+GPS, GPS not as a BN component party but together to form the government,” he added.

Ahmad said this when asked to comment on a proposal by a political analyst that GPS be invited to join BN to further enhance the country’s political and economic stability.

Yesterday, a local university lecturer was quoted to have said that the friendly ties between BN and GPS should be translated into formal political cooperation for a more effective and extensive continuation of Sarawak’s development.

The political analyst had also stressed that this must be done irrespective of the outcome of the 12th Sarawak state election on Dec 18.

GPS was formed after the 2018 general election in which BN lost control of the federal government to Pakatan Harapan.

A month later Sarawak parties Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) announced their withdrawal from BN to form the GPS coalition. FMT

Umno okay with GPS being just close friends

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