By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 24: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi brushed aside presumptions that Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is ‘greedy’ in accepting partyless Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil into its fold.
“We are not greedy as he (Dr Jerip) applied to join us. That means PBB is his choice of party. To push him to some other parties might not go down well for him (as he already left Sarawak United Peoples’ Party and Parti Sarawak Bersatu),” he told reporters today.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed this at a press conference after the PBB Supreme Council meeting at the party headquarters in Jalan Bako here today.
Nanta explained that Dr Jerip’s admission into PBB would not create significant impact in PBB as the party has already 46 seats in the current State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
“PBB has already more than half of the seats in the DUN. He is also in GPS so it is good for the coalition because GPS is not only made up of PBB but comprises Parti Rakyat Sarwak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP),” he opined.
Commenting on Dr Jerip’s admission into PBB, SUPP president Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian insisted that a person can leave but the seat remains with SUPP.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) information chief Datuk Wilfred Rata Nissom wished Dr Jerip the best of luck but reiterated that the party stands on the principle of freedom of association.
“We respect the decision of PBB but PRS still maintains our stand on people moving between parties,” he said. — DayakDaily
