No links to Parti Pribumi S’wak, says Bersatu Sarawak pro tem chairman
KUCHING: Pro tem committee members of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia ( Bersatu) Sarawak yesterday declared that they have no ties whatsoever to an outfit calling itself Parti Pribumi Sarawak ( Pribumi).
Bersatu Sarawak pro tem chairman Johan Mohamad said news circulating on social media that nine elected representatives from Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) would be defecting to Bersatu was “baseless”.
“We are not aware of such news (defection of GPS elected representatives). I would like to state that the news did not come from us, and also reiterate that Bersatu and Pribumi are not the same entity.
“Even the logo of the party is not the same. Bersatu’s logo is a hibiscus while Pribumi’s is a yellow sailboat,” Johan told the press here on Sunday.
He said he was forced to address the matter due to confusion on the ground regarding Bersatu and Pribumi in Sarawak, including claims that the two entities are working together to oust Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) in the next state election.
According to Johan, there are currently three groups in Sarawak – led by Affendi Jeman, Sharif Busrah and himself – that will combine to form Bersatu Sarawak.
On the dispute between the three groups, he said the matter has been settled.
“Sharif and I were both instructed to get the ball rolling (in setting up Bersatu Sarawak). Unfortunately, I have not met Affendi but I have just spoken to his team.
“Affendi’s representative is here tonight ( Sunday) and we are pleased to note that there is positive feedback from Affendi’s team that we can work together. So there’s no more split, just one group for Bersatu,” said Johan, adding Affendi was absent from the press conference as he was in Kuala Lumpur attending to some matters.
Johan also mentioned that Bersatu is looking to register 31 divisions in Sarawak.
He added that a list of division and pro tem committee members will be sent to Bersatu headquarters for registration by next week.
“So far, 22 divisions have already met and formed their own pro tem committee, and we expect Bersatu Sarawak to be formed earliest by the second week of September.”
The first Bersatu Sarawak branch was the Petra Jaya branch headed by Affendi, followed by Sharif’s branch in Betong.