By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, March 7: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has called on the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) top leadership to expel Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) top leaders from the State Cabinet and to cut off their Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) funding immediately.
PRS secretary-general Datuk Janang Bungsu issued this lightning response to DayakDaily in response to PRS vice-president-cum-Sri Aman MP Datuk Masit Kujat’s resignation from the party to join PSB today.
“GPS must act fast. Action must be taken against PSB’s big bosses. Cut off their funding (RTP), ministerial positions, pol secs (political secretaries to the Chief Minister) and councillors,” urged Janang.
He also warned PSB that PRS would veto its entry into GPS as it had undermined the coalition’s strength.
“We have been very accommodating to them. With this latest move by PSB, there is no way we will support its entry into GPS,” said Janang.
Currently, PSB’s president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and deputy president Datuk Dr Jerip Susil are part of the State Cabinet as both of them contested under the Barisan Nasional (BN) tickets in the last state election in 2016.
Recently, GPS mentioned that in order to accept any new political party, it would need at least 75 per cent support from the four-member coalition, which consists of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), PRS, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Earlier, PSB secretary-general George Lo revealed that besides Masir, other former PRS leaders had also been accepted into his party. Among them are PRS former deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, former Lubok Antu MP Datuk William Nyallau Badak and Edward Kurit, who was a PRS supreme council member.
Also joining PSR are former Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entrie Muran and former Teras acting president Banyi Beriak.
“We, PSB, would like to pledge our loyalty and lend our full support to YAB Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) particularly in his fight for Sarawak rights and Sarawak interests, which are enshrined in the Constitutional provisions and in MA63. We will join hands with YAB CM to share his vision and mission of bringing about a better Sarawak.
“We, PSB, are also fully behind our CM YAB Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari’s new economic roadmap to bring Sarawak to a developed and high-income state. We will give full support to his program and activities, particularly his rural transformation effort to propel Sarawak into a new era of development.
“Let us all rise to the challenges and offer the best we can to work hand-in-hand to find fulfilment in the services for our people and our beloved State of Sarawak,” said Lo.
He added that PSB would welcome leaders from other parties to join it.
“Whether UPP or PSB, the main characteristics of our party will remain unchanged. We will always make the multi-racial principle to be our party’s strength. We will reject racism in any form and condemn extremism and radicalism.
“We will not be shackled by emotions and will open ourselves to a broad, more encompassing perspective, a Sarawakian perspective to nurture a united front of all races in our party in our beloved State of Sarawak,” added Lo.
He added that PSB would not waver from its firm and principled stand that it remained a Sarawakian party that struggled for the interests of all Sarawakians, irrespective of race, creed and religion.
Meanwhile, Masir, in his resignation letter, said he decided to join PSB as he believed it was a truly multi-racial party and could unite all races in Sarawak.
“PSB is an independent local-based party that can speak up for all Sarawakians, irrespective of race or religious belief. As a Dayak leader and member of Parliament, I believe PSB will be the party best placed to champion Dayak rights and unite all Dayaks in Sarawak.
“I am in full agreement with the stand of PSB leaders to pledge our full support and loyalty to our Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari,” said Masir. — DayakDaily
