SRI Aman MP Masir Kujat has abruptly quit Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a component party of the state’s ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, to join independent Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).

PRS is a key member of the 4-party coalition that includes Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

Masir, a former home minister in the ousted Barisan Nasional government, said he quit PRS because he believes PSB – a splinter party of SUPP – “is a truly multiracial party and can unite all races in Sarawak”.

“PSB is an independent local-based party that can speak up for all Sarawakians, irrespective of race or religious belief.

“As a Dayak leader and member of Parliament, I believe PSB will be the party best placed to champion Dayak rights and unite all Dayaks in Sarawak,” the former PRS vice-president said in a prepared statement to the media today.

However, Masir pledged his full support and loyalty to Chief Minister and GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg.

Masir is not the first PRS leader to abandon the party helmed by Deputy Chief Minister James Masing for PSB, which prior to December 8 was known as the United People’s Party (UPP).

He now joins former PRS deputy president Joseph Entulu, former Batang Ai MP William Nyallau Badak, former PRS supreme council member Richard Wil Uban and former political secretary to the chief minister Edward Kurik in PSB.

Masing sacked Entulu and Nyallau just before the 14th general election on grounds that they had “acted against party interests”.

Their dismissal played a key role in PRS losing Entulu’s Selangau parliamentary seat and Nyallau’s Batang Ai seat as their supporters threw their votes to PKR candidates.

PSB was formerly known as UPP, a party formed by political rebels from SUPP that changed its name in a “rebranding exercise”.

Masing reacted to the party hoping by declaring Masir was “ungrateful” to the “institution or person which or who has helped them” (move up the political ladder).

“During my time as leader of PRS, I have helped many of my boys to be in their respective positions of importance and have advised them what needs to be done as leaders.

“One thing of paramount importance is (being) grateful to the institution or person which or who has helped them.

“As human beings, we all have conscience, it is the measure of who we are.

“I can tell them the meaning of service to the community, but I can’t guide them to be grateful,” Masing said in a WhatsApp message.

PSB, in welcoming Masir to its ranks, sid the party “is ever ready to work with any like-minded person who believe in our party’s struggles and who can share with us a similar sense of belonging of the people of Sarawak and share with us the spirit of oneness and the common destiny of all communities in Sarawak”.

“It is with this in mind that we welcome leaders from other parties to join us”, as they also welcomed the former SPDP assemblyman for Marudi Sylvester Entri Muran and acting president for the now defunct pro-BN party Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) Banyi Beriak.

Entri was also a former SPDP vice-president and assistant minister of public utilities. – March 7, 2019.