KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has no plans to quit Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and return to Barisan Nasional (BN), ahead of the 12th state election.
PBB vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the component parties in GPS, however, will continue to work closely with BN and other parties under Perikatan Nasional (PN) in developing Sarawak.
The senior works minister said GPS had adopted a federal government-friendly approach and had worked closely with Putrajaya since the coalition was formed and PBB withdrew from BN.
“Even now, we are working closely with PN, which is a coalition consisting MPs from Bersatu (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia), PAS (Malaysian Islamic Party), Umno (United Malays National Organisation) and other BN components.
“For PBB, what is important is to focus on efforts to develop Sarawak and restore the rights of Sarawak as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). This is the priority of PBB,” he said when fielding reporters’ questions on the matter after launching the Public Works Department (JKR) Strategic Plan 2021-2025 at the Farmers’ Organisation Authority Tower here today.
To the question of whether PBB will rejoin BN, Fadillah said, “That should be asked to the chief minister (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg). But so far, maybe not … I think we will remain under GPS. But, we will work closely with all parties.”
Asked whether the state polls would be held simultaneously with the general election, he said, “I do not know. That should be asked to the prime minister (Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and chief minister (Abang Johari). I do not know. Is there an election?”
Asked about the relevance of the PBB special convention with the state polls, Fadillah said the convention had been planned a long time ago, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added due to Covid-19, the convention was also divided into four zones — Northern Zone, Sibu Zone, Betong Zone and Kuching Zone.
