By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, March 11: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has urged all to view the dissolution of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and its members subsequently joining Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) positively.
Abdul Karim, who is also Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) and Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) said that it is a good thing when the government of the day receives support from all.
“(It shows that) The one who helms the government is doing something right; or else, why must the opposition also show support?
“If the policies are not right, they will stay as opposition. When they dismantle themselves and decide to show support, that is something good. So we have to look at it positively. I look at it positively.
“We cannot be, well, just because they dismantled themselves, you think ‘I might lose my seat, my quota’. You cannot look at it from that angle,” he said at a press conference today before flagging off ‘DayakDaily D’Drift 2024’ at the DayakDaily office here.
The minister further emphasised the importance of considering the merger based on the quality of service and representation provided by the individuals involved.
“Politics is not static. It keeps moving and moving. If you don’t change yourself, people will change you. If you keep on losing the seat, how can you claim that seat is yours?” Abdul Karim said.
When asked if he was referring to Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Abdul Karim stated that he did not refer to anyone specific.
According to a Malaysiakini report dated Jan 3, 2024 which also cited information from The Vibes, PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh had announced that the party is no longer in opposition but is supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government and the Sarawak administration headed by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
This is in keeping with PSB’s plan to merge with PDP.
PSB, which was formerly known as United Peoples Party (UPP), was a splinter party of SUPP. It is currently holding three State seats, namely Bawang Assan, Engkilili, and Ba’kelalan, of which the former two seats have traditionally been allocated to SUPP, a component party of Sarawak ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
For Wong who is Bawang Assan assemblyman and Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa to join PDP, which is also a GPS component party, it means these two seats traditionally allocated to SUPP, would be under PDP instead of SUPP.
Ba’kelalan, on the other hand, is traditionally allocated to PDP to contest. If Ba’kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian were to join PDP, it would be seen as the return of the seat to the party’s fold.
Apart from SUPP and PDP, the other two component parties in GPS are PBB and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). — DayakDaily
