By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, March 8: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) has joined its coalition partner Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) in calling on Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to sever ties with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), including stripping its leaders of ministerial and political secretary appointments.
Yesterday, PRS secretary-general Dato Janang Bungsu issued a statement calling on GPS to kick out PSB leaders from the State Cabinet, revoke all other political appointments, and stopped giving them project funds.
SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting, in a press statement today, said SUPP had been right all along that PSB (formerly United People’s Party) was never “friendly” to SUPP, and their (PSB) acceptance of Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat into their fold yesterday meant they were not “friendly” to PRS, too.
Yesterday, PRS vice president Masir quit the party to join PSB, which is led by Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
Besides Masir, former PRS leaders Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun (formerly deputy president), Datuk William Nyallau Badak (former Lubok Antu MP), and Edward Kurik (former Supreme Council member) were also accepted into PSB.
Also joining PSB were former Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entrie Muran and former Teras acting president Banyi Beriak.
GPS comprises, PRS, SUPP, PDP and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
Ting, referring to a press release issued by SUPP on Jan 4 this year, said, “There I said if UPP was not friendly to SUPP, it is, therefore, illogical to say that they are friendly to GPS. This is because SUPP is part of GPS.
“Today, SUPP would like to reiterate that UPP (now PSB) has never been friendly to BN then and now GPS. UPP (PSB) then was only friendly to PBB, even though they said they were friendly to BN and now GPS.
“Their press statement yesterday was even worse, as they only pledged loyalty to one person only, namely the Chief Minister of Sarawak. The name PBB was not even mentioned at all.”
Ting emphasised that any attack against a fellow GPS component party must be seen and be taken as an attack against GPS as a whole.
“At least they (PSB) are now slightly honest to say they are loyal to our chief minister only and did not continue to say they are GPS friendly.
“It is laughable if one day in the near future they announce and tell the whole world that they are GPS friendly again.
“Since that is the case, many people on the ground throughout Sarawak are asking — can or should anyone of them (PSB member) continue to be a minister and or assistant minister of the GPS government?
“This is because the present Sarawak Government is GPS government and they have acted adversely against two GPS component parties,” he said.
Ting said morally, PSB should know what to do but given the present political expediency, they are unlikely to tender their resignations.
“Of course, we all know that the appointment or retention of ministers and assistant ministers is the sole and absolute prerogative of our chief minister.
“It is entirely up to our chief minister to consider whether it is better for or in the best interest of GPS to keep them as members in the present cabinet. But the pros and cons must be weighed and considered very carefully,” cautioned Ting. – DayakDaily
