In an immediate response to questions posed by the New Sarawak Tribune, Dr Jerip thanked PBB supreme council members for approving his application to join the party.
“I personally would also like to thank the chief minister, who is also PBB president, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, for accepting my suggestion for a greater unity in the Mambong constituency with regards to the various component parties of GPS and to a greater extent, the unity of the Bidayuh community as a whole,” he said.
Dr Jerip further said: “I bear reference to the referendum done in 2016 during (the late) Tok Nan’s time after I won the state election in that year on a direct BN ticket.”
According to Dr Jerip, the 2016 referendum, which was handed over to Tok Nan by Temenggong Austin Dimin and other community leaders from Mambong, clearly stated that the majority of Mambong voters wanted him to be in PBB.
“However, due to various circumstances things did not fall into places.
“Now, that it (the referendum) has been revisited, I believe Mambong voters are happy that the referendum, done in 2016, is finally fulfilled.”
However, he stressed the importance of strengthening the component parties of GPS.
“We must unite the Bidayuh as a whole by working closely with all the other races.
“The various component parties in GPS have to work closely, strengthen their machinery on the ground in view of the greater challenges in this critical time given the changing political landscape,” he added.
He warned members of GPS component parties against new tactics being deployed by the opposition to disunite the people and incite them against GPS, particularly at the grassroots level.
