Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the merger should be welcomed with open arms despite the strong support that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) already enjoys.
“We already have more than a two-thirds majority in the legislative assembly, yet they are willing to dissolve themselves and lend support to the state government,” he told reporters after an event in Kuching.
“This will help the premier (Abang Johari Openg) and the state government to move forward better because there will be fewer opposing voices in the state assembly and on the ground.”
PSB was officially dissolved on Saturday and its members accepted en bloc into PDP following the Registrar of Societies’ approval of the party’s dissolution on March 19.
Former president Wong Soon Koh was named as senior vice-president of PDP, with Johnical Rayong Ngipa and Baru Bian appointed as vice-presidents.
This came after PSB signed a memorandum of understanding last July to work with PDP, a component party of GPS.
Karim praised PSB’s willingness to dissolve itself and merge with PDP, especially given its competition with GPS in previous state elections.
“If we consider their number of victories, they have performed better than some long-standing parties. For example, DAP holds two seats, but they (PSB) have four,” he said.
PSB had originally won four seats during the 2021 state polls, namely Bawang Assan, Ba’kelalan, Engkilili and Mambong. Mambong’s incumbent assemblyman Jerip Susil left PSB in 2019.
“And even with that, they are willing to dissolve and lend support to the existing administration.”
Karim also said PSB’s decision to dissolve was a manifestation of support for Abang Johari’s leadership.
“If the leadership was lacking, the opposition party would not have been willing to dissolve itself and join a government party,” he said.
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