MIRI: The line-up of more than 700 councillors for the 24 local councils across the state has been the talk of the town. It wasn’t a surprise when it was known that Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has been excluded from the list, which was approved by the State Cabinet on Thursday and will be sent to Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud for endorsement.
Prior to the expiry of chairpersons and councillors of all 24 councils on June 30, PSB had two each in Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), one in Miri City Council (MCC), and seven in Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).
With the “absence” of candidates from PSB in the list, it is most likely that the allocation of councillors would be given to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
“In my opinion, PSB members have the option to join SUPP and are welcome to do so,” said SUPP Piasau branch secretary Karambir Singh when contacted yesterday.
Karambir, who is also a former councillor, disclosed that by becoming SUPP members, they can continue to participate in the local government as councillors and serve Sarawak via GPS.
Meanwhile, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, who is also PBB Telang Usan chairman, refused to comment further over the subject matter.
