Gps Leaders Prefer Status Quo Not Keen On Hamzah S Grand Coalition Idea

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Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition leaders have brushed off the proposed grand coalition of PN, BN and GPS as mooted by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing (above) told The Malaysian Insight that there is no necessity for GPS to be a formal member of any "grand coalition", although he did back the idea of "an iron-clad understanding" between GPS and the other parties, that all of them must support each other in any election, including state elections.
"In short, PN and aspirants cannot contest in (Sarawak elections) and vice versa, Sarawak (parties) in any seat in Peninsular Malaysia," said Masing.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Abdul Karim Hamzah also agreed that there was no need for GPS to be a formal member of any alliance, saying that the current arrangement was fine.
"Let the status quo remain," said Karim.
Aside from the dominant PBB and PRS, the other parties in GPS are the Sarawak United People's Party and the Progressive Democratic Party. Following decades as part of the BN coalition, they pulled out in 2018 and announced that they prefer to be an independent state-based coalition.

Hamzah Zainudin
Hamzah had mooted a "political understanding charter" to form a grand coalition between the three coalitions in advance of the 15th general election.
In doing so, he said PN-BN-GPS signing a pact would ensure continued cooperation between the three, as well as shore up public confidence.
"With the signing of this charter, the people will be more confident that the coalition has strong political stability to continue governing the country through policies that will advance the economy, develop the country, and protect the people in the future," he said in a statement yesterday.
However, the latest rebuff from Sarawak follows a terse dismissal of Hamzah's proposals by Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin who said it was intended to ride on the strength of the largest party, Umno.
Under the current government comprising all three coalitions, Umno is the largest party with 38 seats followed by Bersatu with 31.
However, Khaled said despite the cooperation, the current PN-led government has failed to create political stability, and there was no guarantee the same configuration could ensure political stability after the next general election.
"PN, BN, and GPS must build their strength and win over votes and the people's mandate.
"Malaysia does not need a 'coalition of coalitions' because everyone knows that it is a political strategy aimed at borrowing the strength of the biggest party and not to get genuine support from the people," said Khaled. - Mkini

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