Sng said the crux of the issue lies in who decides the future of Sarawak – the country’s administrative capital, Putrajaya, or Petra Jaya, where the premier’s office is located.

He said all national parties from the peninsula “will have their political masters in Putrajaya”.

“Sarawakian leaders from national parties have no real autonomy in decision-making. Their hands are tied,” the Parti Bangsa Malaysia president said in a Facebook post.

He said the lack of autonomy by Sarawakian leaders from national parties makes the appeal for local-based parties far more attractive.

“Sarawak has shown the way that they can do things better, and Sabah is following their lead,” he said.

On Monday, a PKR vice-president from Sarawak labelled Abang Johari’s claim as inaccurate.

Roland Engan said GPS, chaired by Abang Johari, is not the only party with a firm grasp of the matter.

“Sarawakians are part of national parties (in the state) and are led by those who respect the autonomy provided for by the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” Roland, who is also the Sarawak PKR chief, said.

Abang Johari had said “only the people of Sarawak truly understand our culture and our politics” when he announced that GPS would field candidates in all the constituencies in the upcoming state election.

He also said GPS does not want parties from outside Sarawak to “disrupt” the state, as it is cooperating well with national parties in the federal unity coalition.