KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) welcomes any Sarawakian to join the party as long as the individual shares the same vision and mission.
PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh stated that the party opened its doors to those willing to fight for equality and justice for all communities in Sarawak.
“This includes members of all parties across the political divide, including members of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). In fact, we have overtures from members of various parties, including Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB),” he said in a statement yesterday.
He was responding to the media who asked him to comment on a report that Selangau MP Baru Bian and his followers intended to join PSB. Baru was formerly the president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak.
At the same time, the PSB secretariat also issued a statement denying the allegation of a report that Baru was induced by money to join the party.
The report alleged “those who are presently being wooed to join PSB, there will be unlimited funds available to reward key members of the party”.
“This report is totally false as PSB has never offered Baru any reward, financial or otherwise, to join PSB. Such malicious falsehood is not only defamatory of PSB but it is also character assassination of Baru, a man with principles who would rather give up his post as Works Minister than to support or join an unelected government,” it said.
It also criticised that the ones who published the defamatory article made no effort whatsoever to seek any clarification from PSB before making such vile allegations.
It added, “It (the article) is no doubt engineered by parties who are now frightened by the surge in popularity of PSB as a Sarawak-based multi-racial independent political party.”
PSB also refuted insinuations that alleged the party was being designed by the economically powerful allies to the current Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to undermine the new leadership of the state government led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The report mentioned that such information was alerted by concerned informants withincomponent parties.
To this, PSB secretary-general George Lo described the informants as having no respect for the governor’s office and have a political agenda or ill motives to scandalise the governor, knowing fully well that the governor was in no position to defend against such malicious attack.
“The governor is in no way connected to or otherwise providing support for PSB.
“Whilst PSB would be honoured to have the support of the governor of Sarawak, we note that the office of governor is above politics.
“The informants are plainly worried by the overwhelming support for PSB from people across the length and breadth of Sarawak, including people from all walks of life. Such fear has motivated the informants to try to tarnish the reputation of the governor and PSB,” he said.
