GRS is PN and should be opposition: Razeef
25 Nov 2022 05:31pm
Razeef Rakimin
This comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated today that an agreement had been reached with GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor over the latter's inclusion in the unity government, adding six more seats in support of the ruling coalition, meaning they had almost acquired a two thirds majority with 145 seats.
Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and an independent MP had, prior to GRS, formed an agreement to support the Anwar administration as decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
GRS had prior to this proposed an alliance with GPS to form a bloc representing East Malaysia in negotiations towards the formation of the federal government.
Razeef today questioned the validity of GRS' agreement to join the unity government, stating that the Sabah ruling coalition comprised Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (Star), both of which are part of PN, whose chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced will provide check and balance to the ruling coalition as opposition in the Dewan Rakyat.
"GRS brings six parliament seats, five of which are from Bersatu, which is part of PN and the other one is from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) which is also part of PN," said Razeef.
"There is a difference between GRS and GPS, which is made up solely of Sarawak-based parties. GPS can be part of the unity government, but GRS' status should be as opposition, as is the case with PN."
For the record, Barisan Nasional Sabah, which is also part of GRS, contested the 15th general elections separate from GRS. Thus, their seven seats led by Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also GRS deputy chairman as well as Sabah BN chairman, form part of BN's overall collection of 30 parliamentary seats.
Apart from Bersatu, Star and BN, GRS comprises eight other component parties including PAS and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
