No room for partyless 9 in PBB

State’s biggest BN component party to stick to its pre-election promise not to expand beyond 40 seats

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) will not accept any of the nine partyless assemblymen who have applied to join the party.

This was disclosed by PBB secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi in responding to queries if PBB would accept the applications of three United People’ s Party ( UPP) leaders — deputy president Datuk Dr Jerip Susil ( Mambong) and vice presidents Ranum Min a( O par) and Dr Johnical Rayong ( Engkilili) who applied to join PBB last month.

They resigned from UPP to stand as Barisan Nasional ( BN) direct candidates and won in the May 7 state election.

After their applications to PBB came to light, UPP announced that their applications to resign from the party were rejected and that they would remain UPP members.

Dr Rundi stressed that in making any decision, PBB would take into the‘ overall considerations in BN spirit’.

“We will not make any decision that may jeopardise BN unity and while we appreciate their confidence in PBB, we would not want to be perceived as opportunist.”

He stressed PBB would keep to its promise not to expand beyond 40 seats, which meant that it also would not re- admit the three PBB members Dato Gerawat Gala ( Mulu), John Ilus ( Bukit Semunja) and Miro Simuh ( Serembu) who resigned to stand as BN direct candidates and won.

“I as secretary- general of the PBB would like to reiterate that our stand remains the same as before the last 11th state election.

“We will not expand our party beyond 40 seats, nonetheless we will deliberate further on ways to resolve the matter and to consider every aspect to be fair to everyone.”

The newly- appointed Public Utilities Minister also confirmed the applications of three UPP leaders but stressed that the party would look into the matter at the next PBB supreme council meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow.

Apart from the UPP three, and the three former P BB members, three other partyless assemblymen — former Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak ( Teras) president Tan Sri William Mawan ( Pakan), former Teras supreme council members Paulus Palu ( Batu Danau) and Rosey Yunus ( Bekenu) — are also applying to join PBB.

Dr Run di expressed full confidence in state BN chairman and PBB president Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem would make the right decision on the matter.

We will not make any decision that may jeopardise BN unity and while we appreciate their confidence in PBB, we would not want to be perceived as opportunist. Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, PBB secretary-general