Perikatan Nasional (PN) has pledged to assist the GPS coalition in Sarawak in the upcoming state election, saying the close ties shown between their leaders during Muhyiddin Yassin’s maiden visit as prime minister is proof of their commitment to further political cooperation ahead.
PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said the PN Supreme Council had agreed in a meeting yesterday that its party machinery and grassroots would be mobilised at every level to ensure a GPS victory in the Sarawak polls.
“The closeness shown by the two top leaders throughout the official visit proves that the political understanding between them is very good.
“They are also committed to further strengthening political cooperation between PN and GPS in the days to come,” he said in a statement today.
The meeting was chaired by Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, and attended by the leaders of PN component parties including Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS), Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR), Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) and Dominic Lau (Gerakan).
Muhyiddin had been in Sarawak on a two-day official visit, his first since taking over the country’s top post in March last year.
While there, he had welcomed PAS’ statement of support for his government while stressing the importance of having the backing of all communities.
This comes in the wake of Umno’s decision endorsed at its general assembly last weekend to cut ties with Bersatu at the next general election.
Party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said the Umno leadership could now decide to quit the PN government at any time.
In its statement today, PN also noted the agreement between PAS and Bersatu to formulate PN’s strategies at the impending general election as well as the distribution of seats between partners and allies.
“PN believes this committee is capable of forming strong strategies to rally support among the Bumiputeras as well as guarding the interests and rights of non-Bumiputeras as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” it said.