KUCHING, March 7 — Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat has quit Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), which is a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) friendly party.
PSB announced today that he had joined the party together with former Selangau MP Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun and former Lubok Antu MP Datuk William Nyalau Badak, who were both sacked from PRS before the general election last year.
Masir, a former home affairs deputy minister under the Barisan Nasional administration, said in a statement that he tendered his resignation as PRS vice president yesterday.
“I have decided to join Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB). My reason is that I believe PSB is a truly multi-racial party and can unite all races in Sarawak. PSB is an independent local-based party that can speak up for all Sarawakians, irrespective of race or religious belief.
“As a Dayak leader and member of Parliament, I believe PSB will be the party best placed to champion Dayak rights and unite all Dayaks in Sarawak,” Masir said, adding that he was in full agreement with PSB’s support for Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg.
Masir’s entry into the party together with his two former PRS colleagues, who were expelled for insubordination, was announced after a PSB meeting this morning.
PSB said former Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party secretary-general Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak acting president Banyi Beriak were also accepted as members today.
“PSB is ever ready to work with any like-minded persons who believe in our party’s struggles and who can share with us the similar sense of belonging of the people of Sarawak and share with us the spirit of oneness and the common destiny of all communities in Sarawak,” the party said in a statement.
“Our Party PSB will not waver from our firm and principled stand that we remain a Sarawakian party which struggles for the interests of all Sarawakians, irrespective of race, creed and religion.”
The party said it pledged its full support to Johari particularly in his fight for Sarawak rights and interests as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Led by Sarawak Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, PSB was formerly the United People’s Party (UPP), which is a Sarawak United People’s Party splinter-party.
UPP was formed in 2014 and was renamed PSB earlier this year.
The party has not been formally accepted into GPS, the state’s ruling coalition.
