KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) is not a threat to PBB in the next state election.
He also cast doubts on PSB’s so-called agenda to champion the state’s rights and interest.
Wan Junaidi, who is also also Santubong MP, instead proposed PSB join any of the existing component parties of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) if it was serious in defending Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, state and federal constitutions.
GPS is currently made up of four components with PBB as its backbone. Three others are Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
In this way, PSB would be able to strengthen GPS in efforts to fight for the interest of the people and the state, he told reporters after the handing over of the newly completed Maternity and Child Health Clinic at Kampung Bintawa here yesterday.
On PSB’s intention to contest in all 82 seats in the next state polls, Wan Junaidi, who is also PBB supreme council members, described it as “stretching a little bit too much”.
“If you don’t have the financial backing, (the numbers in) members and proper (party) structures in the respective areas where you intend to contest, you (PSB) won’t be able to make it,” he added.
He cautioned that should PSB joined the fray with the idea of taking over and replacing the state government it would end up failing at governing just like that of PH and the state would be doomed.
On a separate issue, Wan Junaidi said though both PBB and PSB had the word “Bersatu” or united in its namesake, PBB is the “real Bersatu” party.
“PBB has been around 46 years. I’ve been with the real Bersatu party since I became the MP in 1990s. In the last general election, PBB lost only one seat.
On preparation for the next state polls, Wan Junaidi advised fellow PBB members to strengthen their structures and be more committed to ensure GPS would remain at the helm of the state government after the election.
Wan Junaidi rebuked PH’s way of addressing the current economic crisis faced by the country by selling assets such as in Pulau Pinang.
In light of this, he said it was crucial for Sarawakians to “defend Sarawak from being sold as such”.
He said GPS is currently working very hard in efforts to defend and reclaim the state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, many of which have been eroded over the years.
