Sarawak party appeals for help to block GPS clean sweep

Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan said a change of government was needed in Sarawak, citing unresolved issues over the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and oil and gas resources. PETALING JAYA: An opposition party in Sarawak has appealed for public support to help prevent a clean sweep by the ruling state coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak at the coming state assembly election.

Sarawakians must ensure that GPS is given a run for its money, said Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan. He said GPS had an edge over its rivals due to its incumbency and extensive resources.

“PBK cannot allow GPS a clean sweep in all 82 seats, or else democracy will give rise to a tyrant and a dictatorship,” Dayak Daily quoted him as saying. He admitted that PBK, which does not have a single seat in Sarawak, would be “fighting a giant.”

Voon said a change of government was needed in Sarawak, citing unresolved issues over Sarawak’s oil and gas resources and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Voon’s warning comes a day after state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said GPS backbenchers would keep the Sarawak state government in check if the coalition won all seats at the next state election.

Karim said backbenchers would act as a pressure group “like the opposition” and pointed out that the administration had an ombudsman unit and other mechanisms to ensure accountability.

Sarawak's state assembly election could be held as early as December.