GPS to take PH vow on Sabah, Sarawak with a pinch of salt

A Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader has expressed scepticism over Pakatan Harapan's (PH) pledge to empower Sabah and Sarawak as part of its manifesto for the 15th general election (GE15). 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Fadillah Yusof, the senior vice-president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), said he would take the vow with a pinch of salt. 

"Can it be trusted?" he said. "It's not a holy book, they have promised many times without fulfilling what they say."

Fadillah, the Petra Jaya incumbent, was referring to similar vows made by PH at the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018, and the words of then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the coalition's 22 months in power. 

PH was heavily criticised for what was seen as its failure to make good on some of the promises in its manifesto. 

Its manifesto this time around, Tawaran Harapan, was launched on Nov 2, ahead of GE15 on Nov 19. 

It encompassed 10 priorities including the cost of living, the fight against corruption and empowering Sabah and Sarawak, to be realised immediately if PH received the mandate of the people to form the government.

Barisan Nasional (BN), too, had attempted to win over voters and political groups in Sabah and Sarawak by offering the position of deputy prime minister, one from each of the Bornean states. 

BN's efforts followed the achievements by Muhyiddin Yassin during his time as prime minister, including the uplifting of Sabah and Sarawak to provinces, as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

He also formed a new Cabinet portfolio for Sabah and Sarawak affairs under the  jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department. 

Political pacts in the peninsula have been seen as working towards establishing cooperation with GPS and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah in order to form the next government. 

Analysts have agreed that no one coalition is likely to be able to occupy Putrajaya under its own steam. 

GPS, a splinter party from Sarawak BN, comprises PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Parti Demokratik Progresif and Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak.

When asked why GPS would find it difficult to believe PH's most recent pledge, Fadillah replied: "The proof is in those 22 months." 

Fadillah's colleague in GPS, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, previously said the coalition had not forgotten what he described as DAP's treatment of Sarawak during PH's time in power. 

Karim had been responding to PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli's comments that PH would need to work with GPS and GRS in order to form the federal government. 

GPS is expected to win big at the coming election, and could play the role of kingmaker in deciding which coalition takes top office in Putrajaya. 

When contacted, leaders of GRS and Sabah-based Warisan declined to comment on PH's election pledge.