State BN asked to accept UPP, Teras
KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) has been asked to accept the United People’s Party (UPP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) into its fold.
UPP adviser Dr Chou Chii Ming suggested that this would be a practical solution following Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) decision not to admit nine partyless state elected representatives as members.
“Let them rejoin their former respective parties and the state BN accept Teras and UPP as state BN parties,” he said when contacted yesterday.
The nine partyless elected representatives who have applied to join PBB are Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) – formerly from UPP; Datuk Gerawat Gala (Mulu), John Ilus (Bukit Semuja) and Miro Simuh (Serembu) – formerly from PBB; and Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (Pakan), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) – formerly from Teras. According to Chou, this is possible as Teras has yet to be formally dissolved.
“I did not see Teras hold an EGM (extraordinary general meeting) to dissolve the party but only saw such news through its leaders’ statement in the newspapers,” he said.
On the three former PBB members, he said: “PBB has not stated (whether) these three YBs are still their members and (therefore they) have been treated as partyless. So logically they should return to Teras.”
On the trio from UPP, Chou said the party had not accepted their resignation letters, which were submitted before nomination day (April 25) for the 11th state election.
“So they are still UPP members and can return home anytime.”
On whether Dr Jerip, Ranum and Johnical could apply for PBB membership when they are still UPP members, he replied.
“They applied by their own accord. They may assume their resignations have been accepted”.
“They resigned before the election. And UPP CC (central committee) meeting was held to discuss their resignation after the state election. As adviser to UPP, I would advise UPP to welcome the trio to rejoin the fold of UPP,” he added.
When contacted, Rayong declined to comment on PBB’s decision not to accept his membership application.
Mawan, who is former Teras president, told See Hua Daily News when contacted that it is too premature to comment, while Ranum said he had yet to make up his mind.