Sarawak BN chairman Datuk Abang Johari Openg smiles after BN won 19 out of 31 Parliamentary seats contested in Sarawak, May 10, 2018. — Bernama pic

KUCHING, May 10 — The Sarawak Barisan Nasional has declared that it will be an “opposition government”, putting to rest speculations about its allegiance to the coalition.

Its chairman and chief minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg – in a statement issued soon after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as prime minister – said the state government will work together with the Pakatan government while holding it to its election promises.

While congratulating Pakatan for its victory, he said: “The state BN government, even though an opposition government, will continue to work with the Federal government for the benefit of the rakyat in Sarawak in particular and Malaysia in general.

“Our top priority is to reclaim state rights which have been eroded over the years back to Sarawak as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution.

“The State government will closely monitor all the promises as contained in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto in the next five years, particularly those relating to Sarawak.”

Sarawak is one of only three states still controlled by BN. The state coalition had won 19 of 31 seats contested yesterday, its worst haul since losing six seats in the previous polls.

The parliamentary and state elections are held separately in Sarawak, and the odds are stacking up against the coalition retaining the state in the polls due in about three years.

Sarawak BN currently holds 71 out of 82 state seats.