GPS plays down Tiong’s appearance at PH ceramah in Johor

PETALING JAYA: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has sought to play down the appearance of its vice-chairman Tiong King Sing at a Pakatan Harapan (PH) ceramah in Johor last night.

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, information chief of GPS lynchpin Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, said Tiong attended the ceramah in his personal capacity.

“His presence at the ceramah has nothing to do with GPS. GPS remains consistent in refusing to get involved in election campaigns for other states.

“Any speculation linking GPS to such political campaigning is wholly untrue,” he said in a statement.

Karim, a Sarawak minister, added that GPS only found out about Tiong’s presence at the PH ceramah following news reports.

Tiong, the federal tourism, arts and culture minister, spoke at the PH ceramah in Muar, Johor, which was also attended by PH chairman and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Amanah Youth leader Muammar Qaddafi Nasir said this was proof that top leaders in Borneo were backing PH in the Johor polls, which will be held on July 11.

Tiong is president of the Progressive Democratic Party, a GPS component which has eight assemblymen and two MPs, including Tiong.

He also stirred controversy during the November 2025 state polls in Sabah after campaigning for PH in Tawau, despite a GPS directive against participating in the election campaign.

Tiong denied breaching the directive, saying he was in Tawau to carry out his duties as tourism, arts and culture minister. However, he was seen speaking from a rostrum with a PH banner draped over it.