Not a straight-forward issue but an inherited problem, says Abang Jo
KUCHING: Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to convene a meeting with leaders of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties for an insight into the crisis besetting Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
The Chief Minister, who is also GPS chairman and Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) president, said the meeting will look into possible solution to the crisis.
Abang Johari, however, did not disclose any details as to when the meeting would be called.
“I need to sit with PRS and the relevant parties on this matter,” he said when asked for his comments on the surprise decision by PRS Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat to quit the party and join Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
Abang Johari said: “I would have to talk to partners in GPS first. We have to look into this issue together and leave it to the public to judge.”
“It is not a straight-forward issue; it is an inherited problem,” he said without elaborating.
GPS is a four-member coalition of Sarawak-based political parties. PBB aside, three other components are PRS, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
PSB, on the other hand, is not a component member though it is GPS-friendly with some of its top leaders holding key positions in the state Cabinet.
The party, formerly known as United People’s Party (UPP), is actually a splinter party of SUPP.
It was set up following an unresolved leadership crisis in SUPP and until now, it has not applied to become a member of GPS.
Most, if not all, of its leaders are formerly SUPP members.
Meanwhile, GPS Youth leaders yesterday held its own meeting and issued a statement stating they have unanimously decided to let the chief minister resolve the issue.
However, the movement also said they will not condone or accept non-GPS members in the state cabinet who are enjoying the privileges and resources of the GPS government yet pinching away GPS component members, thereby promoting confusion and disunity in the coalition.
On Thursday, Masir dropped a bombshell when he announced his decision to quit PRS and join PSB.
It came as a shock because there has not been any talk about this until yesterday.
Masir was joined by several prominent politicians, who were also former PRS leaders and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) acting president Banyi Beriak and former assistant minister and former Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.
Other former PRS leaders, who also announced their decision to join PSB are former MPs Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun and Datuk William Nyallau Badak, Richard Will Uban, Datuk Kristoffer Nyuak Bajok, Raymond Bullie, Vivien Nyut Nasat, Assan Ngang, Ali Adap, Andrew Lamit, Edward Kurik, Andrew Winston Kaya Penguhulu Michael Derin and Patrick Sibat Sujang.
With Masir on PSB’s side, PRS is now down to only two MPs.
