THE Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), which is expected to absorb some 80,000 members from the just-dissolved Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), has assured that it will stay loyal to Sarawak’s ruling coalition after the membership expansion.
PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said it will always remain a faithful component of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition and to its chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, who is the Sarawak premier.
Speaking at a Chinese New Year gathering in Bintulu town last night, he said some people have criticised PDP for its stance recently in wanting to form a pact with PSB.
“Despite us saying that we in PDP always have the interest of GPS at heart, there are those who ‘kong kali kong’ (Hokkien for “are always complaining”).
“I want to assure GPS again that we in PDP remain loyal to GPS and chairman Abang Johari even as we in PDP move forward in our progress,” said Tiong, who is also the federal tourism minister.
Former PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh and other former PSB leaders were also present at the CNY dinner event.
This comes in the wake of PSB’s dissolution as a political party during an extraordinary delegates convention in Sibu town last Saturday.
Sources told The Vibes that the move was officially approved by the nearly 500 party delegates present at the special assembly.
President Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh did not officially make any announcements to the press.
It is understood that the dissolution must be officially made known to the Registrar of Societies first.
Sources said that the delegates were advised to apply to join PDP.
On January 3, PSB leaders had publicly renounced the party’s status as an opposition outfit against the GPS government.
They declared their full support to the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the state government led by Abang Johari.
There are now three former PSB members and 76 GPS reps in the 82-seat Sarawak assembly.
The remaining are two DAP assemblymen, who are the sole opposition members, and one independent. – The Vibes, February 19, 2024
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