By Ling Hui and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 9: It is up to Barisan Nasional (BN) to decide whether it will accept Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) into the coalition, says Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) said as much as PBM has the right to present its motion, BN also has the freedom to accept or reject PBM’s wish to join hands.
Dr Wan Junaidi, who is also a senior Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leader, said he sees no issue arising from the situation as the people must be allowed to practise democracy.
“As a lawyer and political veteran in GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), I see no problem there. Whoever wants to form a party or join another party, they are free to do so.
“At the end of the day, it’s the people’s decision whether a party can continue to exist or not,” he said.
Dr Wan Junaidi also pointed out that GPS’ stance has not changed ever since it pulled out of BN, and the Sarawak government will continue to maintain friendly relations with its federal counterpart.
“GPS, we left BN back then, because we wanted to follow our own path and not listen to BN which is based in Peninsular Malaysia.
“So until today we still maintain that kind of standing, but we also maintain our close relationship with the federal side,” he told the press following a work visit to the Kuching Court Complex here today.
Yesterday (Jan 8), Julau MP Larry Sng was named the president of PBM which was approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Oct 27, 2021.
While announcing the party’s new lineup for the 2022-2025 term, Sng also expressed PBM’s interest in joining BN whereby 12 PBM divisions had proposed a motion for the party to be a component party of BN and to face the 15th general election. — DayakDaily
