By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 24: Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil can be accepted into PBB or any other state-ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) members, as he is partyless.
Therefore, it is justifiable for PBB to accept the Assistant Minister for Transportation into its fold, said senior vice-president Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong.
“After all, he’s no longer a member of both Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) or Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB). He resigned from both parties.
“The chief minister (Abang Johari Tun Openg) received the letter of application from him to join PBB. The letter was presented (to the PBB Supreme Council) today and was unanimously accepted,” Manyin told reporters after PBB’s supreme council meeting here today.
With Dr Jerip’s admission into PBB, the Bidayuh community now have six out of eight of its state elected representatives in the party.
Besides Manyin and Dr Jerip, the other Bidayuh lawmakers are Datuk Roland Sagah (Tarat), Martin Ben (Kedup), John Ilus (Bukit Semuja) and Miro Simuh (Serembu).
Manyin, who is also Tebedu assemblyman and the most senior Bidayuh political leader, said that to win the coming state election due in 2021, the elected representatives must address issues that have cropped up in their constituencies and check them twice.
“We can’t tell you what these issues are because it’s for us to tackle,” he said when asked on what the issues were.
Manyin refused to comment if PBB should be allocated the remaining two Bidayuh-majority seats in the next state polls, namely Tasik Biru and Opar, as they belong to other parties.
Tasik Biru is traditionally allocated to Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Opar to SUPP. — DayakDaily
