By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 8: There is a need to find solutions to the issue of politicians ‘jumping ship’ as it is an ‘inherited’ problem.
Highlighting this, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said he would discuss and engage partners in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) first before addressing the issue of politicians switching allegiance from one party to another.
“Let me talk to our (GPS) partners first. We must look after ourselves,” he told reporters after officiating at Sin Chew Education Fair 2019 here today.
On whether `jumping ship’ was ethical, Abang Johari said: “Let the public judge. But you know it is an inherited problem … (have to) find a solution.”
Yesterday (March 7), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice president cum Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat quit the party to join Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), which is led by Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
Other than Masir, former PRS leaders Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun (former deputy president), Datuk William Nyallau Badak (former Lubok Antu MP), and Edward Kurik (former Supreme Council member) were also accepted into PSB.
Also joining PSB were former Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entrie Muran and former Teras acting president Banyi Beriak.
As the situation unfolded, PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing reiterated that leaders need to be ‘grateful’ to the institution or person which or who had helped them.
Meanwhile, PRS secretary-general Datuk Janang Bungsu has called on the GPS top leadership to expel PSB top leaders from the State Cabinet and to cut off their Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) funding immediately.
He also warned PSB that PRS would veto its entry into GPS as it had undermined the coalition’s strength. — DayakDaily
