Better to join BN, says PERSB founding member

SARIKEI: Newly-minted Parti Ekomomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB) should apply to join the Barisan Nasional (BN) as PERSB’s main struggle is for the betterment of the rural people.

PERSB founding member Kiprawi Suhaili said whatever the party decides during its inaugural general meeting, its members should realise that the party should join forces with either the BN or Pakatan Rakyat to realise its struggles.

He said this was necessary because the present political conditions have made it difficult or impossible for any party to survive on its own.

But if given the choice, he preferred joining the BN.

“It is an undeniable fact that the rural people have full confidence in the BN to change their livelihood for the better. As PERSB is pursing the same agenda, we have every reason to complement each other.”

Kiprawi said this yesterday in when asked for his comments on a remark by Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Tuesday that he had no qualms over any new political parties joining the BN coalition.

However, the chief minister, said approval of such applications required the unanimous decision from all BN component leaders in the country, and that he had no power to decide on such matter.

Kiprawi hoped his party’s pro tem committee would decide on PERSB’s direction during its first general meeting, which must be held within 90 days after its registration.

If the party decided to join the BN, he hoped there would be no conditions attached, such as requests for seats in future elections.

That could come only after PERSB had proven itself as a sincere BN partner.

“For now we should be sincere in offering ourselves to serve the people. We don’t have to be elected representatives to serve the people.”

Meanwhile, PERSB pro tem committee chairman Mohd Noh Bakeri said the future direction of the party would be discussed and decided during their inaugural general meeting.

Kiprawi, Noh and 13 others from PERSB, which was then unregistered, stood as independent candidates in the 10th state election in 2011, but all lost.- theborneopost