Chief Minister and GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg speaks to reporters after chairing the PBB supreme council meeting in Kuching, March 7, 2020. — Picture by Sulok Tawie

KUCHING, March 7 — Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has accepted an invitation by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to form the federal government.

GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg told reporters that the invitation was received two days ago.

“We agreed to form the federal government and the prime minister has agreed to our suggestion that the federal government be called the Perikatan Nasional-GPS federal government,” he said after chairing a PBB supreme council meeting.

He said this is because GPS is not part of the PN coalition but a separate political entity.

As for Cabinet positions, Abang Johari, who is also the chief minister, said the decision rests with the prime minister.

He said it is the prerogative of the prime minister as he is very experienced and has held many ministerial positions before.

“We agree to participate in the Cabinet based on two premises, namely, our representatives in the Cabinet will continue to fight for what are the wishes of the people of Sarawak through GPS, that means they will be there in the Cabinet and they will express the aspirations of Sarawakians, in terms of policy decisions, especially in relation to the state’s interests.

“If you are not there, you do not know. But since we will be there, we will always express our interests in the Cabinet led by the prime minister.

“Secondly, our representatives in the Cabinet will pursue our interests enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as well as the fact we want Petronas to abide by our Oil Mining Ordinance,” he said.

He said this includes the payment of the 5 per cent sales tax.

He indicated the state might propose to the federal government for Petronas to drop its court case against the state government.

“If we are not in the Cabinet, we will not be able to voice our proposals officially to the federal government,” he said.

He said it is possible that the prime minister may announce the Cabinet line-up in the next three to four days.