By Chris Bishop
KUCHING, April 14: Former opposition assemblymen from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will be sitting on the government side in the upcoming Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting in May.
DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said this is because three of them, namely Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan), Dr Johnichal Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Baru Bian (Ba’Kelalan) has join Progressive Democratic Action Party (PDP).
“Under Standing Order 2, it is at the discretion of the Speaker to determine the position of the seating arrangement and it is final.
“Of course, I will inform the leader of the ruling bloc (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg),” said Mohamad Asfia when met at his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at the DUN building here today.
Mohamad Asfia said he has received a letter from PDP president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing on April 12, informing him that Wong, Rayong and Baru had been accepted as members of PDP, a component party in the State government-ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
He also said that PDP requested for consideration to be given to remove the three assemblymen’s seating from the opposition side to the government bloc.
“So at the DUN sitting that starts on May 6, the layout of the seats of the assemblymen will be changed.
“I will make an official statement at the press conference after the pre-DUN meeting, before the session begins,” said Mohamad Asfia.
PSB was dissolved after the party’s Special Conference of Representatives held onm Feb 17 and the request for dissolution was submitted to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on March 11. The dissolution approval letter from ROS was received on March 19.
Following that, a PDP Supreme Council meeting held on April 6 unanimously appointed Wong as PDP Senior Vice President, while Rayong and Baru were each appointed as PDP Vice Presidents. — DayakDaily
