Teras to likely invite G5 members to its fold

KUCHING: Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) is likely to extend an open arm to the five former SPDP leaders dubbed the Group of Five (G5) after it was revealed that the party was formed by supporters of the BN Club.

Its pro tem secretary-general, Banyi Beriak, said the party is leaning towards the Barisan Nasional (BN) considering the affiliation of its founding members.

Declaring itself a multi-racial party, Teras welcomes those who are not members of any political organisation to join their cause.

Teras is one of five new political parties in the state including Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Parti Bumi Kenyalang, Peace Party and Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB) that were approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

On Aug 24, ROS director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman announced that the department had approved 20 out of 30 applications for new political parties.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the ROS for the approval of the party’s application. Teras is a multi-racial party open to all Malaysians who reside in Sarawak. Partyless people are most welcome,” Banyi, who is former SPDP executive secretary, told The Borneo Post yesterday.

The party is strongly linked to group of five former SPDP leaders sacked by the party for gross insubordination. This however, has previously been denied by the G5 spokesperson Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian.

Nansian, who is also Assistant Minister for Community Services, is one of the BN Club proponents. The group has repeatedly pledged their allegiance to the BN and that the setting up of the BN Club was meant to garner public support to the BN.

The G5 comprises Nansian, former Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau). Rosey is also Assistant Minister of Early Childhood, Education and Family Development while Entri is Assistant Minister of Agriculture.

Banyi said the party’s pro-tem central executive committee (CEC) was expected to call for a meeting soon to chart future direction of Teras. - theborneopost