KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s (PSB) Presidential Council has decided that the video statement by Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat, in which he denied supporting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad but supported Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister, be withdrawn.
Dr Mahathir announced on Feb 29 that he had received support from 114 MPs for him to be the nation’s eighth Prime Minister — 12 of them are Sarawakians.
Among them in the list was Masir, but he later denied his support in a video statement, which had been circulating on social media.
The party’s council in a statement said they would support Dr Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan (PH) as per the votes of the people at the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018.
“We believe it is morally right to do so,” it said in the statement.
It said PSB did not necessarily agree with PH and would vigorously contest against them and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the coming state election.
However, it said “PSB has not lost sight of the will of the people expressed at GE14, which is that PH should form the federal government.”
“The Malaysian voters made their decision for change and handed the reins of power to the PH coalition.
“The PH coalition has the mandate of the people and, unless this mandate is removed by another general election, PSB is of the view that it would be wrong to go against the will of the people,” it said.
“And for these reasons, the Presidential Council has decided the video statement by Masir, is hereby withdrawn,” it said.
PSB also hoped that Parliament would convene as scheduled on March 9, so that the dispute over who commanded the majority support in the Dewan Rakyat could be resolved and the government could get on with the task of governing the country in these difficult times.
“As a member of the Presidential Council, Datuk Masir has agreed with this decision, and states that he will decline any offer of any post in the federal government if offered,” it said.
“By the same token, PSB will decline any offer of any post even if the PH coalition is returned to power.
“We decided on this course of action firmly believing it is the right thing to do and for no other reason,” the PSB Presidential Council said.
