Nanta: Sarawak to head to the polls this year, GPS will retain majority

KUCHING (Jan 29): Sarawak is set to call its state election this year, confirmed Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

The last state election was held on Dec 18, 2021.

“We had the last election five years ago. Of course we will definitely this year, but as to which month, that’s the Premier’s (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg) prerogative.

“I am not gonna give you a hint,” the Works Minister told BFM’s The Breakfast Grille.

Nanta, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general, said GPS, the state’s ruling coalition, would continue to secure the majority in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

“We are now having 82 state seats, but it was already approved in the DUN last year that there will be an additional 17 new seats, making the total at 99.

“That has to be endorsed in the Dewan Rakyat and if that is done, there should be 99 state seats. I think we’ll still win the majority,” he said.

On healthcare and education autonomy, Nanta said all Sarawak wants is to have a say over these sectors.

He pointed out Sarawakian leaders have long expressed their views on wanting to have decision-making power in both healthcare and education, which currently fall under the federal government.

“For example, the recruitment of staff and the number of doctors. Same with education, we want to tailor it to our needs,” he explained.

On the ongoing Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) negotiations, he said much had already been discussed while Sarawakian MPs had been debating on this matter in Parliament.

While many MA63-related demands raised had been achieved, he admitted there are still significant matters not fully addressed, such as the issues between Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros).

“We want to have a control over our oil and gas resources,” he stressed.

Responding to talk that Sarawak does not want to undertake the exploration costs, he replied: “We’ve never said we don’t want. We are prepared to negotiate which aspects should be left with the national oil company.”

He opined that Petronas should not be too worried about its oil and gas privileges in Sarawak.

“We are not going to hurt Petronas. Why would we want to kill out Petronas? But there are some people who may scare them.

“Petronas has been assured by our Premier, that we understand Petronas’ role. It’s just that you (Petronas) may not be able to continue to have everything you used to have,” he stated.

As a Malaysian, Nanta said he hopes that Petronas and Petros would not need to go to the court to resolve Sarawak’s oil and gas rights in Sarawak.

“What happens if the court’s decision made does not make you happy?” he asked.

He added further lawsuits may complicate the matter by opening up something more serious in terms of sentiments.