‘Defection rumours fake, attempt at destabilising unity’
KUCHING: Rumours that nine Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) elected representatives would defect to an outfit called Parti Pribumi Sarawak have been branded as ‘ fake news’ aimed at destabilising unity in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing said the rumour – that six MPs and three assemblymen would defect – was false and should not be heeded by anyone.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president went on to say that he firmly believes all of his party’s elected representatives are loyal to GPS.
“It’s fake news. Don’t pay too much attention to social media as a source of news as it could be fake news. PRS YBs (elected representatives) will be loyal to GPS,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Meanwhile, PBB vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the defection rumour was “the work of mad people”.
“That is just a baseless rumour calculated to disunite Sarawakians. People, particularly Sarawakians, are now wiser unlike those in 1963 who were so easily hoodwinked by empty promises,” said the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture Youth and Sports.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on Saturday dismissed the claim that
It’s fake news. Don’t pay too much attention to social media as a source of news as it could be fake news. PRS YBs (elected representatives) will be loyal to GPS. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, Deputy Chief Minister
six Sarawakian MPs will defect to Parti Pribumi Sarawak.
It is unclear if Parti Pribumi Sarawak is affiliated to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia ( Bersatu) led by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
There were reports last month that a group of Sarawakians had made plans to open Bersatu branches in Petra Jaya, Lawas and Samarahan.
This was after Dr Mahathir in June said Bersatu may follow Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR), Democratic Action Party ( DAP) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) in setting up branches in the state.
A national news portal recently reported that two assemblymen from PRS and one from Parti Peska Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) were rumoured to be joining Bersatu.
The news portal had earlier quoted ‘party insiders’ as saying that six MPs from Sarawak would also be joining Bersatu.