Abang Johari denies meeting PM over cabinet posts

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Abang Johari Openg yesterday denied that he met new Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Thursday to discuss matters related to the formation of the federal cabinet.

Abang Johari (above), who is also the Sarawak chief minister and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, declined to comment when asked whether there was any decision on GPS’ involvement in the cabinet.

He, however, asked reporters to wait until today.

“Wait... there is a PBB meeting,” he told reporters, referring to the party’s Supreme Council meeting scheduled to be held at its headquarters in Jalan Bako in Kuching on Saturday.

Last Tuesday, he said the issue of GPS being part of the cabinet is secondary compared to the interests of the country that must be the top priority.

Abang Johari also said that he would need some time to decide on the matter.

In a statement on Monday, GPS chief whip Fadillah Yusof said the state coalition will leave it to Abang Johari to decide whether to take up positions in the cabinet under Muhyiddin.

He said this was decided at a meeting between the coalition’s top leadership and all its MPs in Kuala Lumpur on March 1.

Talk of GPS’ possible inclusion in the new cabinet arose after the Sarawak-based coalition threw its support behind Muhyiddin as the eighth Prime Minister following a week of political turmoil in the country.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Sunday.

- Bernama