PARTI Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) “pinching” an MP from the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition indicates that the well-funded, non-aligned party is on a new political course, a political analyst said today.

James Chin, director of University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute, said the defection of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president and Sri Aman MP Masir Kujat and his acceptance into PSB showed that PSB’s long-standing desire to join GPS appears to have been put on the back-burner.

PSB was formerly known as the United People’s Party (UPP) after a name change in December last year attributed to a party “rebranding exercise”.

The party comprised followers of former Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh, who left the party following his defeat in its 2011 presidential election.

UPP’s prior application to join the then Barisan Nasional coalition had been blocked by SUPP.

However, with GPS, PSB only needs the support of three of its four members – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, PRS, SUPP and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) – to get in.

SUPP had reportedly stated it would block PSB’s application, while an angry PRS today said it would veto PSB’s entry, saying the latter “undermined the coalition’s strength”.

Chin said it appeared that PSB was now trying to mould itself into how Parti Warisan Sabah had been before the 14th general election.

“There is something going on behind the scenes and we are not seeing the real story,” Chin said.

He said sources had told him that former PRS deputy president Joseph Entulu, who PSB yesterday announced had been accepted into the party, had been tasked with roping in key Dayak leaders “who don’t like GPS or Pakatan Harapan” between his home base in Selangau and up the Rajang River.

“Just like what Warisan did before GE14,” Chin said.

“So, its all options on the table right now for them. While the desire to join GPS might still be there, I think PBS is trying to do a Warisan – be the third force in Sarawak politics.

The defection of Masir, the former deputy home minister in former prime minister Najib Razak’s ousted Barisan Nasional government, had even caught his constituents by surprise.

“Prior to yesterday, he was quiet as a church mouse,” DAP’s Sri Aman chief Leon Jimat Donald said.

“There were no indications that he would jump ship. It was a total surprise to us.

“Nobody here anticipated it,” Leon said.

Leon said since Masir had gone quiet after GE 14, “we all thought he just living in the waning days of his political life since he had publicly said he would retire and not defend his seat in GE15”.

Leon, however, said it was “well-known knowledge” in Sri Aman, some 193km from Kuching, that PRS president James Masing had wanted to replace Masir in GE14.

“Masir is an Entulu man. He was never in Masing’s camp.

“There’s no love lost between him and Masing.”

Leon said rumours had also surfaced that former deputy prime minister and home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had “arm-twisted” Masing into keeping Masir.

“He (Masir) was saved by Zahid.”

Still, Leon had some harsh words for Masir, whom he described as one of many politicians “past their expiry date and are being recycled”.

“His action does not serve any purpose or give the Dayaks any advantage. It’s all for personal glory.” – March 8, 2019.