‘Bersatu may lack faith in PH components in Sarawak’
KUCHING: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s ( Bersatu) possible expansion to Sarawak seems to indicate the party has little faith in the other Pakatan Harapan ( PH) component parties already in Sarawak, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) vicepresident Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He pointed out PH already has components Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR), Democratic Action Party ( DAP), and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) in Sarawak.
Abdul Karim said, as such, Bersatu’s possible expansion to Sarawak raises questions as to why chairman Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad feels the need to do so.
“That is just my thought and speculation when I heard about the news that Bersatu wants to come to Sarawak. We can always speculate,” he told reporters yesterday.
He said at the end of the day, it all depends on whether Sarawakians could accept the party or not.
“Malaysia is a democratic country and Sarawak’s doors are always open to political parties which want to expand their wings here. I believe Sarawakians are very mature nowadays when it comes to politics,” he said.
In a separate interview, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was puzzled by the intention of Bersatu to spread its wings to Sarawak.
He said: “I wonder why Bersatu wants to spread its wings to Sarawak.
“With so many local parties around, voters will have a hard time making a decision on which party to choose.”
Commenting further, the Asajaya assemblyman said: “Malaysia is a democratic country and any party can set up its branches in the state.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak would continue to work with local parties despite Bersatu’s intention to spread it wings to the state.
He added that if Dr Mahathir wanted to spread Bersatu to Sarawak, that was his party’s decision.
The Chief Minister was speaking to reporters when met at Tanjung Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu’s Hari Raya open house at her residence in Damai, Kuching.
On Monday, Dr Mahathir announced Bersatu is looking to spread its wings to Sarawak to “fulfil the wishes of the people of Sarawak”.
Dr Mahathir said since other PH component parties are already in Sarawak, it is only proper for Bersatu to do the same.
Bersatu was formed on Sept 8, 2016 and its membership is open to all Bumiputeras.