KUCHING, Sept 8: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing today laid bare his disagreement over the formation of United People’s Party (UPP) believing at the time that it would cause disunity in the then Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in Sarawak.
Masing said, even his colleagues in BN then were unhappy with his criticism of UPP, a breakaway party from SUPP, that has since rebranded itself as Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
“When UPP as a breakaway party from SUPP was formed, I wasn’t in favour of such move as it will break the unity among the BN component parties in Sarawak. Then was Sarawak BN. But after the 14th general election, we formed Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“However, a few of my colleagues in GPS thought my comments weren’t necessary and criticised me for it. I knew UPP, now known as PSB aren’t good for our unity in the state.
“The President of PSB (Datuk Seri Wong Son Koh) wasn’t sincere in his intentions. He did basically nothing for people of Bawang Assan despite being 29 years as its elected representative. Even when he declared full support to DP Abang Jo, I didn’t believe him. Now his true characters come to the surface. My sympathy to those who believe in him,” Masing said in a statement here today.
His comment was in response to Wong’s criticism of Abang Johari, who alleged that the party was made up of disgruntled politicians. While Abang Johari did not refer to PSB when he made the remark at recent PBB’s mini convention in Miri on Saturday, Wong said the chief minister was clearly referring to his party.
Wong said in spite of his criticism, Abang Johari, who is Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, had played an important part in the formation of PSB.
“It seems that Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari has forgotten the history of PSB, of which he is so much a part. He in fact played an important role in the formation of UPP (United People’s Party, which PSB is formerly known as),” Wong said in a statement yesterday.—DayakDaily
