GPS leaders thank Muhyiddin for remembering Sarawak’s interests

Sarawak leaders have thanked Muhyiddin Yassin for his work as prime minister, saying he served the interests of the state during his 17 months in Putrajaya.

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, vice-president of GPS’ lynchpin party PBB, said Muhyiddin had done his best to handle the pandemic despite facing the political impasse which resulted in his resignation from the country’s top office yesterday.

“I would say that Muhyiddin’s performance was great,” he told MalaysiaNow, adding that it could have been better “had he not been battered left, right and centre by his opponents”.

“He fared well despite all the assaults, and he tried his best to help all Malaysians including those from Sabah and Sarawak during his short span as prime minister,” Karim added.

“Malaysians will one day remember his deeds once the dust has settled.”

Muhyiddin submitted his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday, saying he had lost the backing of the majority in Parliament after the withdrawal of support by a group of Umno MPs aligned with their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak.

He also cited the rejection of a cross-party consensus he had offered to the opposition in exchange for their support at an upcoming confidence vote in his leadership.

His administration had seen the restoration of rights over oil and gas sales as well as tax revenue payments from the federal government and Petronas to Sarawak after nearly six decades.

GPS parliamentary chief whip Fadillah Yusof, who was the minister of works in Muhyiddin’s Cabinet, voiced hope that Sarawak’s portion of the Pan Borneo Highway project would not be affected by the change in government.

“Whoever is appointed as the works minister after this should continue to implement the infrastructure projects that have been approved, just as the PN government continued the projects approved by the previous Pakatan Harapan administration,” he said in his farewell message after stepping down from his Cabinet position.

“The people should not be the victims as a result of the prolonged political crisis and change in government. Whatever projects have been promised to the people for their well-being should be continued.”

Other GPS leaders who had been in Muhyiddin’s Cabinet, including Alexander Nanta Linggi (domestic trade and consumer affairs) and Nancy Shukri (arts, culture and tourism) also thanked him for trusting them with their positions.

“GPS respects Muhyiddin’s decision to resign,” they said. “We uphold parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.”