UPDATE: GPS eyes works, rural and plantation portfolios

8pm: GPS has set sights on cabinet portfolios that can bring the most impact to Sarawak.

When contacted, GPS secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi said these portfolios include rural development, plantation, commodities and works.

"We have proposed that we are given portfolios that are especially meaningful to Sarawak such as the Rural Development and Plantations Industries and Commodities Ministries.

"If possible. We would like to keep the Works Ministry too," he told Malaysiakini’s Kow Gah Chie.

During the previous Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob administrations, GPS’ Fadillah Yusof helmed the Works Ministry - a powerful portfolio in charge of public infrastructure.

Alexander (above) was the domestic trade and consumer affairs minister during both the Muhyiddin and Ismail Sabri administrations.

When asked what portfolio he was personally hoping for, Alexander casually said the plantation and commodities portfolio would suit him.

On whether Anwar should appoint a non-Malay or non-Muslim as a deputy prime minister, Alexander said doing so will earn the new prime minister a lot of goodwill and prove that he was intent on having an inclusive government.

Earlier, Anwar had already pledged to appoint one deputy prime minister from BN.

He is also obligated to appoint a deputy prime minister from East Malaysia as promised in the Pakatan Harapan election manifesto.




Main article: Anwar looks forward to closer federal-Sarawak ties

Newly minted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim received a visit from a delegation led by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg at his home this morning.

Following the visit, Anwar said on Facebook that he looks forward to closer relations between the federal government and Sarawak.

“Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is among the pillars of the unity government I lead alongside BN, Warisan, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

“God-willing, relations between the federal government and Sarawak will certainly be closer and stronger in forging a better and extraordinary Malaysia,” he said.

GPS and its 22 (later 23) MPs had initially thrown their weight behind forming a government alongside Perikatan Nasional (PN), BN, and GRS.

However, its stance wavered amid continued uncertainty over which coalition could sway enough MPs to form the government, and alarm among Sarawakians over the prospect of working with PN component party PAS.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg (second right) along with other politicians during a visit to Anwar’s house

After DAP leaders made public apologies and Anwar was sworn in as prime minister, Abang Johari as GPS chief announced that his coalition would join Anwar’s unity government.

Anwar now claims to have a two-thirds majority in Parliament, with support from Muda, BN, GPS, GRS, Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia, and independent lawmakers.