PARTI Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has more or less described the resignation of its presidential council member, Sri Aman MP Masir Kujat yesterday, as good riddance.

“Our party can well do without a leader like Datuk Masir,” the party said in reaction to Masir’s decision to dump the party he joined in 2019 to become an independent MP supporting the Perikatan Nasional government under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

Masir joined PSB after defecting from another state-based party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

PRS is a member of the state’s ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.

Masir had cited the country’s political instability as one of the reasons for his decision to quit.

PSB also described the defection a “temporary hiccup” in the party’s political journey.

“PSB believes and subscribes to the principle that our party, leaders and members’ stance must reflect the struggles and aspirations of our fellow Sarawakians.

“No individual is bigger than the party and the people,” it said in a statement.

It added PSB is a party not for merely a leader or an individual.

The party said the resignation would be an opportunity for PSB to groom its leaders-in-waiting for the coming general elections.

“No matter what challenges and difficulties come our way, we shall diligently fulfil the responsibilities assigned to us as we travel along this political journey towards our ultimate objective of making Sarawak a better place for all.

“We shall not falter despite the temporary hiccups, and are moving and shall continue to move forward together, stronger and more united,” it added.

The party said the support of 139,515 Sarawakians towards PSB at last December’s state elections, or 18.69% of the total votes cast, had given its membes hope and optimism for the future.

That, PSB added, had given it the second-highest number of votes garnered, after Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, the lead party in GPS. 

Masir, a three-term MP who won the Dayak-majority seat on the PRS ticket, was also former deputy home minister in Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional government.

PSB fielded Masir in the Dayak seat of Balai Ringin in last December’s state elections, but he failed to unseat the incumbent, GPS-PRS’ Snowdan Lawan.

In a three-cornered fight, Masir polled 3,531 votes to Lawan’s 4,816.

The third candidate, Kasim Mana of the pro-independence Parti Bumi Kenyalang polled only 195 votes to lose his deposit.

Balai Ringin is one of three state seats making up the Sri Aman parliamentary seat.

The other two are Bukit Begunan and Simanggang. – March 31, 2022.