The Sarawak Parties Alliance (Malay: Gabungan Parti Sarawak; abbrev: GPS) is a Sarawak-based national political alliance in Malaysia. It was established in 2018 by four former Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties operating solely in Sarawak following the federal coalition's defeat in the 2018 Malaysian general election.[7] It is currently the fourth largest political coalition with 23 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, and forms the government in the state of Sarawak.
History
Formation
GPS was formed on 12 June 2018, consisting of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).[8][9] The four parties were former component parties in Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, with a gentleman's agreement that Peninsular or Sabah based parties within BN would never establish themselves in Sarawak, thus giving the parties a relative autonomy.[10] The coalition focuses on the state's interests and rights based on the Malaysia Agreement and remain an opposition at the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government despite the readiness to "cooperate and collaborate".[7] On 23 August 2018, its chairman, Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg, announced that GPS Gabungan Parti Sarawak has been registered and is awaiting the issuance of the official letter from the Registrar of Societies (RoS).[11] The coalition was finally legalised on 19 November 2018.[1][2]
Policy
As the component parties of GPS quit BN en bloc, it inherits BN's former place and dominance in Sarawak politics. The party claimed to continue the legacy of Adenan Satem, a relatively popular former Sarawak's chief minister, who led BN Sarawak to its triumph in 2016 state election on basis of greater autonomy of Sarawak.[12] Although the party pushed for constitutional amendments in accordance to 1963 Malaysian Agreement, its policy did not mention an outright Sarawak independence, rather it prefers to work within existing laws to regain what it calls as Sarawak's rights. The coalition launched its party policy in Kuching on 19 January 2019.[13] It often received condemnation from opposition parties in Sarawak and foreign observers for continuing abuse of government powers, such as uneven allocation of aid and development and perceived punishment toward ethnic chiefs not aligned with the government. The party also directly or indirectly controlled most major media publications in Sarawak.[14][15]
Following the political crisis in 2020 (which saw the PH government lose its majority in the Dewan Rakyat), GPS entered into an agreement by declaring support for the new government coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN). GPS chairman, however, maintained that the agreement will not see GPS become a member of PN, but will remain as a partner instead.[16] A week after PN's prime ministerial pick, Muhyiddin Yassin, was sworn in as the new premier, he announced his cabinet which saw four MPs from GPS appointed full ministers, and five others as deputy ministers.[17]
^ abSamuel Aubrey; Abdul Hakim Bujang; Kim How Pin; Peter Boon (20 November 2018). "ROS officially approves GPS". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^Jeremy Veno (10 January 2019). "A guiding light for GPS". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 23 January 2019. According to Abang Johari, the focal point of the GPS logo depicts the Kenyalang (hornbill) in the shape of an 'S' which reflects the vision and slogan of the party of putting 'Sarawak First'.
^"GPS will be new platform for Sarawak Government". Bernama. Daily Express. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019. The defeat of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government at the federal level after the general election last year saw BN component parties in the state forming the GPS with its slogan or catchphrase "Utamakan Sarawak" or "Sarawak First".
