KUCHING: There will be many new faces in the list of councillors appointed to sit in local authorities across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, in confirming this said councillor positions previously held by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will be replaced with appointees from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Asked by reporters on the percentage of new faces he replied, “Quite a lot because we are replacing all those formerly held by PSB with new faces.”
Uggah who chairs the special cabinet committee to finalise the councillor appointments, pointed out that the list of appointed councillors, including those retained in their post, has been approved by the State Cabinet and would be submitted to the Head of State before it is gazetted.
“The councillors list has already been approved, it will be presented to the Head of State to be gazetted, and to take effect from July 1,” he said when met by reporters after the Persatuan Ketua Masyarakat dan Tuai Rumah Kaum Iban Daerah Kuching (Pemaik) thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.
Asked to comment on the decision of Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, who quit PSB on Thursday, Uggah said, “We respect his decision. That’s all.”
When asked if Dr Jerip had applied to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Uggah replied, “Not that I know of.”
Meanwhile, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian who was also at the dinner declined to comment on Dr Jerip’s quit decision saying that he would come up with a statement on the matter.
