KUALA LUMPUR (June 12): Barisan Nasional (BN)'s reign in Sarawak has come to an end with the departure of four of its party strongholds — Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) — to set up their own coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Sarawak Chief Minister and PBB president Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg told a press conference today that the decision was made after much deliberation, reflection and due consideration, taking into account the country's current political developments after the 14th general election (GE14).

"We believe that it is timely and appropriate for Sarawak to embark on a new political platform going forward, in order to face challenges in line with the changing aspirations, needs and demands of a very wide range of cross-section of Sarawak populace. Sarawak is uniquely a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religion state," he said.

GPS would be independent of Pakatan Harapan but would be 'friendly' with the coalition, said the head of government better known as Abang Jo.

"We will also cooperate and collaborate with the federal government for national interests, state rights and interests based on federal constitution, and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (Federation of Malaysia)," he added.

He said opposition parties including DAP and PKR would remain as that in Sarawak.

"After we form GPS, we have to formalise it with the Registrar of Societies, and inform the Parliament Speaker, and Secretary, and Dewan Negara, and BN. It won't take long, it is just a formality," he said, adding that another BN component party United People's Party would come onboard later.

While denying he met former Prime Minister and BN president Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the split, he confirmed meeting current PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a form of courtesy.

He said the coalition has long considered its diversities as its greatest asset in progressing and developing as a successful and peaceful state.

He said it is incumbent upon Sarawakians to continue to nurture and protect their values, living at peace and in harmony, comfortably among one and another.

"This aspect is indeed not only our pride but also our joy in our lives as Sarawakians. Hence, the decision was made in the interest of the people and the state above all else," he added.

Abang Jo said the coalition enabled and empowered them to serve the people better, in line with the aspirations and fulfilling the desires of the people of Sarawak.

"We are confident that this is the most pragmatic and appropriate decision to bring Sarawak into the new era desired by the people of Sarawak," he added.

Since the upset victory of Pakatan in the general election, there have been talks that BN component parties particularly PBB, considered the backbone party in Sarawak with 13 parliament seats, would leave BN after Dr Mahathir visited former Sarawak CM Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, who was also former PBB president, within a week of being in power.

PBB and SUPP have been with BN since 1973 while PDP joined the coalition in 2002 followed by PRS in 2004.

Talks were rife that Dr Mahathir was hoping to make up a two-third majority in Parliament in order to table and pass Bills or amend the Federal Constitution. This was to be done via the participation of Sarawak-based BN parties, particularly PBB to become friendly parties to Pakatan while enticing the other BN parties to follow suit.

Out of Sarawak's 31 parliamentary seats, 19 were won by BN (PBB — 13, PRS — three, SUPP — one, and PDP — two) and the remainder 12 were bagged by DAP (six), PKR (four) and two independents.

"Our coalition would be friendly with Pakatan and we will collaborate with the Pakatan federal government because we have a federal system according to the constitution for the interest of the nation (but) our direction is different because we are independent.

"Of course we thank BN for the cooperation we had before but the situation has changed and therefore, we have to get ourselves in tune with the changes," he said.

Abang Jo pointed out that the BN parties first started as a Sarawak alliance before joining BN.

"At that time the landscape was different as we were developing the country but now the situation has changed because we won in 2016 on the basis that we will protect the rights of Sarawakians.

"The late Tok Nan (former CM Tan Sri Adenan Satem) initiated it and we are continuing the mandate given to us in 2016, and that is what we are doing now. Tok Nan declared July 22 as a public holiday to remind us of our importance in the federation, so we will continue with it," he added.

Sarawak celebrates July 22 as the day of the establishment of self-government in 1963 on the condition it would become part of the Malaysian federation on Sept 16 that year.