KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) backbencher club has slammed opposition leaders who had resorted to create a perception that the state government is not giving the youth an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.
The club in a statement today said the Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) secretariat as well as Pakatan Harapan Sarawak (PH) leaders have continued to harp on the issue of Undi 18, alleging that the state government is rushing the state election to avoid its implementation.
"It is disappointing to see that when the opposition parties feel that the state election is near, they are back to their old strategy of inciting anger among youth similar to what we have seen in the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018," it said.
"This approach of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks can be interpreted as a sign of desperation from the opposition, especially PH, whose political capital dried up after their massive blunder when helming the federal administration," it said.
"Similarly, we want to ask PSB, since it is insistent on championing the youth, what have they done for the group since its formation, and what are their contributions?"
The backbencher club pointed out that GPS has continued to be sensitive and concerned on the aspirations of the youth and throughout its various policies, has ensured that they are not left out from benefiting from the initiatives of the state government.
For the state government, it has come up with the incentive to pay 30 per cent of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan to eligible borrowers.
The state government has also created the Graduan Pulang Sarawak initiative (iGPS) for Sarawak students studying at higher learning institutions (IPT) in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and when mass gatherings were allowed, constant engagements with the youth were held through townhall sessions by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and the State Youth and Sports Minister.
"This contributed to the setting up of several initiatives to help the youth and empower them, grooming them to be leaders in the next generation."
"We call on the opposition parties to not mislead the youth any further just for the sake of scoring brownie points. They can see and evaluate for themselves the contributions of the state government and how its policies have benefited them. No amount of slander and baseless allegations can change that."
