“But this is secondary,” he added. “The country’s (interests have to come) first,” he said after the opening of a state-level forum on interfaith harmony here today.

Yesterday, GPS chief whip Fadillah Yusof said the party would leave it to Abang Johari to decide whether Sarawak should have ministerial posts in the new federal government.

He said the party leaders had not discussed the matter as they were more concerned about national interests and state’s rights.

However, Fadilah said he was certain that the party would not merge with Perikatan Nasional.

“GPS will continue to remain a local political entity that is not attached to any coalition,” he said.

On Sunday, Muara Tuang assemblyman Idris Buang said GPS should be offered positions in the new federal Cabinet although it is not part of Perikatan Nasional.

He said GPS should participate in the federal government on its own merit to help stabilise the nation and leverage the coalition’s presence to fight for Sarawak’s cause and agenda.