KUCHING, 28 Aug 2008: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which is in the midst of merger talks with the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), is confident no elected representative from Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties will hop over to the opposition, PRS president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing said today.
The state land development minister said he did not foresee any hopping taking place, even if the proposed merger between PRS and SPDP does not materialise.
“I don’t see people jumping around. Sarawak is not a land of frogs, it is the Land of the Hornbill…you remember that,” he told reporters at a management seminar.
Masing said this when asked to comment on claims by Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that at least 30 BN Members of Parliament would leave the coalition to form a new government, and that he (Anwar) would become prime minister on 16 Sept.
“Everyone has a vision and Anwar is entitled to his vision, which I do not share,” Masing said, adding that the idea of a PRS and SPDP merger was still intact.
On 26 Aug, Anwar won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, defeating BN’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, and Hanafi Hamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia in a three-cornered fight.
Masing said the voters’ decision must be respected, noting that the Election Commission which the opposition accused of being biased had proven its credibility and impartiality.
Meanwhile, SPDP deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok said the proposed merger between SPDP and PRS could materialise before the next state election, to be held by May 2011. – Bernama
