This anti-hopping law needs to be enacted but must be limited to MPs, state assemblyman and possibly senators. If it is limited to them and other non-elected representatives are free to change associations or parties, that preserves their human rights. For MPs, the impact of the leap is so great that it makes our country unstable and the government in turn is not respected by other countries.
– Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, fourth and seventh prime minister
Ampang MP and former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin hopped to Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU), and several others are expected to follow suit.
This, at least, is the writer’s prediction.
Zuraida was part of the faction of eleven from PKR, who quit the party, playing a crucial part in sinking the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government two years ago.
The faction, dubbed by the press as ‘Azmin’s eleven’ was led by former PKR deputy-president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Besides himself and Zuraida, the faction comprised Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Baru Bian (Selangau), Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak), Datuk Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Datuk Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Datuk Seri Santhara Kumar (Segamat), Datuk Ali Biju (Saratok), Datuk Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau).
They had sought refuge in BERSATU.
Selangau’s Baru left PKR and was set to pledge his support to the other prime minister candidate, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin – which formed a new federal government – but had a change of heart at the eleventh hour.
He remained as part of the opposition since under Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
PBM – formerly the Sarawak Worker’s Party (SWP) was, a splinter of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) – a predominantly Dayak party.
One could say it has been a very interesting turn of events for the once political minnows who, had been affiliated with other local Sarawak parties to form the loose Gabungan Anak Sarawak (GASAK) political alliance.
The others in GASAK were Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (ASPIRASI), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), with NGOs of Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) and Sarawak Independence Alliance (SIA).
These parties did not win a single seat in the last Sarawak state election in 2021.
SWP was left in the political cold storage for some time after its president Larry Sng left the party in 2016.
The senior Sng – Sng Chee Hua – a veteran Sarawak politician formed the party with former PRS members in 2012 and passed it down to his son.
Larry returned to the party, and was elected president early this year.
He had won the Julau seat in the 14th general election on an independent ticket in 2018.
Shortly after that, he joined PKR and experienced a meteoric rise within the party. His decision was due to him wanting to be a part of the ruling government – PH at the time.
After Baru’s departure from PKR in 2020, Larry assumed the position of state party chairman, being elected to the position, defeating Miri MP Dr Michael Teo and Batang Lupar division chairman Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh.
He himself relinquished the position in early 2021, saying that it was time for a Dayak leader to lead the PKR in the Sarawak polls. He then quit the party altogether.
Upon his return to PBM, following an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which was held due to the resignation of the party’s previous main office bearers, the party garnered media attention.
PBM received ROS approval for its name change and a new constitution on October 27 last year.
It has since recruited a number of BERSATU as well disgruntled former PKR and DAP elected representatives.
We could very well see more high-profile recruits to the party, and another name that has been bandied about was Azmin himself – the leader of the breakaway faction from PKR.
To say that the senior federal minister is a political strongman with vast influence might be an understatement.
Penang’s PBM wing has publicly welcomed Azmin if he were to join the outfit. Talk is rife that he would be the newer and higher-profile addition to the party.
It is no secret that Zuraida is a close ally of Azmin – both fought their battles in PKR and were at loggerheads with party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his faction.
For now, Larry has announced Zuraida as PBM’s president-designate.
The Julau MP said the party’s supreme council and political bureau had unanimously agreed that Zuraida lead the party’s discussion with other parties in preparation for the upcoming 15th general election.
Azmin’s arrival at the party would surely change that – if he does decide to part ways with BERSATU, PBM is his political safe haven.
He might just be biding his time, as he did when he left PKR.
If this happens, more of his allies will follow suit, depriving BERSATU of its much-needed political muscle amid its tumultuous spate with the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO).
