KUALA LUMPUR: Gabungan Parti Sarawak Chairman, Abang Johari Openg, has announced that the party will convene to discuss seat allocations following the dissolution of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
The discussion will also include considering the future roles and positions of former PSB assembly members who have now joined the GPS ruling coalition.
Abang Johari said the discussions will take place at an appropriate time, downplaying concerns of internal strife following the dissolution of PSB and its leaders' integration into the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a component of GPS.
"We will discuss it at the next (state) election. It's definitely not this year," he told reporters after the state government's Hari Raya open house in Kuching this afternoon.
He assured that the ruling coalition would tackle this matter when the time for the state election arrives.
"After all, it's just two seats (that are affected). Ba'Kelalan is (traditionally contested by) PDP. So it's just Bawang Assan and Engkilili. It'll be up to them how they negotiate."
PSB recently dissolved, with its three assemblymen and other members joining Tiong King Sing's PDP.
Speculation emerged concerning potential internal conflicts within the coalition, particularly because the former PSB president, Wong Soon Koh, had prior affiliations with SUPP, a component of GPS.
Wong, a former Sarawak Finance Minister, was dismissed from SUPP in 2014.
He has represented Bawang Assan since 1991, defeating SUPP's Robert Lau in the 2021 polls. In the 2021 Sarawak elections, PSB contested against GPS and secured four out of the 82 seats.
After Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How's departure from the party in 2022, PSB was left with three seats.
Apart from Wong, the remaining PSB assemblymen are former PKR vice-president Baru Bian (Ba'Kelalan) and Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili).
Following PSB's dissolution, Wong was appointed as a senior vice-president of PDP, while Baru and Johnical also joined the party's top leadership.
Abang Johari emphasised the significance of former PSB leaders now acknowledging GPS's accomplishments and direction for Sarawak's future.
"Previously, they questioned GPS's policies, but now they acknowledge our achievements. We have a clear vision for Sarawak's progress.
"It's crucial for all of Sarawak to stand united," he said.