KUCHING, June 10: PKR Sarawak clarifies its former chief Baru Bian was not expelled from the party but left on his own accord.
Its secretary Joshua Jabeng in a statement corrected Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri James Masing for claiming that Baru Bian who is Ba’kelalan assemblyman-cum-Selangau MP was expelled by PKR.
“On a side note, I wish to correct PRS president Dr James Masing — YB Baru Bian was never expelled by the party.
“He voluntarily on his own accord left Party Keadilan at the height of the political crisis in February 2020 and declared himself an independent MP.
“His departure from the party automatically vacated his seat as Chairman of MPN (State Leadership Council) Keadilan Sarawak,” Joshua highlighted.
He pointed out that following that, Julau MP Larry Sng was appointed by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the new state PKR chairman from March 3, contrary to rumours by that Sng’s appointment was based on consensus by a majority of state branch chiefs.
Meanwhile, Joshua also claimed that there are more members joining PKR Sarawak than leaving as membership now stands at over 40,000.
He revealed the party approved an average of 500 new membership applications monthly, thus rendering the number of those who purportedly left negligible.
“The series of press statements regarding the number who left are mere publicity stunts. They are meant by party enemies to inflict maximum damage to demoralise our over 40,000 members throughout the state and to weaken the resolve of Majlis Pimpinan Negeri (State Leadership Council) leadership to continue to strive for institutional reform, equality and responsible government,” Joshua added.
He also claimed most of the 30 branches statewide are intact and several problematic ones are now in order following MPN’s decision to appoint branch coordinators to take charge of the branches until the next party election.
“We cannot be wrong to assume that those press statements are the product of instigations from outside, probably the same people who conspired and brought down the duly elected Pakatan Harapan (PH) government on 29 February 2020.
“Having worked and known each other, it is difficult to believe that friends who left the party could suddenly become so bitter against the party they once loved and supported, not discounting of course genuine party-hoppers who would bow to moral low (sic).”
Joshua alleged that ever since Perikatan Nasional took over the federal government, everything seemed to go into reverse and the nation has quickly backslid to where Malaysians were prior to the 14th General Election where former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and leaders supporting him are “relieved”.
He was also saddened by some former PKR leaders who “took the bait” and abandoned the call for ‘Reformasi’. — DayakDaily
