KUALA LUMPUR: Gabungan Parti Sarawak's (GPS) support for the federal administration is to ensure Malaysia has a stable government and policy clarity, says Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The GPS chairman said the Sarawak coalition's backing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after the last general election, was similar to its decision to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when the country was in political turmoil.
Then, GPS, along with Barisan Nasional, Pas, Bersatu and some PKR members of Parliament came together to form the government in what was dubbed the "Sheraton Move".
"When there was a change in the prime minister, no one had the numbers to become one.
"The former Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah) asked us in Sarawak whom we could support to replace Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who also to form a unity government.
"(And) among Mahathir, Datuk Seri Anwar and Muhyiddin, the latter had the most support at the time so we supported him and gave him the numbers for the sake of Malaysia," he said on an episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast.
Abang Johari was asked by hosts Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan if he agreed with the perception that GPS were kingmakers in Malaysian politics.
He said later when Muhyiddin lost support, GPS backed Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri's administration, also for the sake of the country.
"The same thing happened in the last election when Anwar was called by the King and the King wanted unity.
"We said 'okay' and agreed to join the government. Despite having small numbers, you need our numbers for political stability in the country which continues to this day."
Abang Johari said while no one knows what the political situation will be in the future, GPS always wants unity, a stable government and policy clarity.
"That is all," he said.
Asked about the possibility of having a prime minister candidate from Sarawak, Abang Johari said GPS was realistic about the number of seats it had in the Dewan Rakyat.
"So, I say at the moment (not yet), but we might not know in the future, (and) I think it depends on the configuration in Parliament."
He also said unity was important for progress.
"Just look at the border post between Tebedu and Entikong. The Entikong border post in West Kalimantan looks like an airport, while the Tebedu post in Malaysia looks like a chicken coop.
"You cannot do your job if you keep fighting and I am sorry to say this but we (GPS) do not want to be the prime minister, we leave it to you and Malaysians (voters)."