PARTI Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) is working towards a merger with Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and is waiting for the green light from the top Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leadership.
PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said his party is awaiting Premier
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s blessing for the proposed merger.
“We will wait for the Premier’s decision because green light must come from him. He must give his blessings. Once he agrees, the rest will just be a formality,” he told reporters today.
“The two parties will come together. PSB will be dissolved and come under the umbrella of PDP,” he added.
Wong, however, clarified that the merged entity will not take on a new name, but will be absorbed by PDP.
“PDP is a component party of GPS, therefore the new party has to be PDP otherwise the anti-party hopping law will apply. We just need to amend both parties’ constitutions and laws,” said Wong, who is Bawang Assan assemblyman.
He added that PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing would lead the new entity after the merger.
Both parties had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for collaboration in Kuala Lumpur on July 13.
Last August, Tiong said the merger between the two parties was expected to be finalised in December, after several issues have been ironed out.
The Bintulu MP hoped the merger would enable both parties to better serve the people.
“We would like to thank the Premier for giving us the support to sit and work together. I’m aiming for the two parties to merge in December,” he said at the PDP and PSB unity dinner in Sibu on Aug 19.
