Obvious choice: S’wak’s PSB backs Anwar, Abang Jo’s leadership

KUCHING – Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), which only managed to secure three seats in the last Sarawak state election in 2021, today announced its support to the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and State Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.  

In a statement tonight, PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said their choice to support the current federal and state government leadership is to ensure national stability, solidarity and unity.

“At the moment in our country, there are two opposing political forces pitting against each other: one is moderation seeking consensus and adopting a give-and-take attitude, and the other is leaders advocating racism and religious extremism, seeking divide and rule. 

“For the sake of national stability, solidarity and unity, the choice before us is obvious,” he said.

He said Anwar should be given full support to enable his new administration to carry out his objective under Malaysia Madani to wipe out corruption and inefficiency, and to right all the wrongs of the past and to remove forces of divisions among the people.

“We know that the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government has given its full support to the unity government. 

“We will therefore, at state level, pledge our full support to our premier (Abang Johari) in the spirit of unity to enable him to carry out his ‘Peoples First’ initiatives,” he said. 

Wong’s statement came following PSB’s decision to sign a memorandum of understanding with Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), one of GPS component parties, which he signed together with PDP president, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, in Kuala Lumpur today. 

In the signing ceremony, Tiong said that both parties reached a consensus to support one another as they both strive to see prosperity and political stability in the nation.

Following the decision made by PSB, the Sarawak assembly, which has a total of 82 assembly members, would be left with only two opposition members, Chong Chieng Jen (Padungan) and Violet Yong (Pending), who are both from DAP.

DAP remains as the opposition at the Sarawak assembly level but is part of Pakatan Harapan at the federal level.

It formed the unity government together with GPS after the 15th general election. – Bernama, July 13, 2023