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By Lian Cheng and Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 13: What will happen if Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a Sarawak ruling coalition member party absorbs local Opposition party, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB)?
PDP headed by Dato Sri Tiong King Sing who is also Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister and PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pave the way for a collaboration between the two parties at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur today.
Both parties did not reveal the terms of collaboration despite being pressed by the media after the signing ceremony.
If the rumour of PDP absorbing PSB is true, it would mean Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which won 76 out of 82 State seats in the 2021 Sarawak Election, now holds a total of 79 seats, a staggering 96 per cent of all Sarawak seats compared to the prior 88 per cent.
After the 2021 Sarawak Election, the breakdown of seats held by GPS component parties was Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) with 47 seats, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) with 13, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) with 11 and PDP with 5.
The five State seats held by PDP comprises Dudong (Tiong), Marudi (Datu Penguang Manggil), Meluan (Rolland Duat), Tasik Biru (Datuk Henry Harry Jinep) and Krian (Friday Belik).
During the 2021 Sarawak Election, Opposition party PSB fielded 70 candidates but only managed to win four, namely Bawang Assan (Wong), Ba’kelalan (Baru Bian), Engkilili (Johnichal Rayong) and Batu Lintang (See Chee How).
However, after the election, See left the party to be an independent, resulting in PSB only having three seats.
For PSB to join PDP, it would signify the total disappearance of PSB and the increase of seats held by PDP, from five to eight. — DayakDaily
