Abang Johari says coalition considering Jerip’s application
KUCHING: Transport Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (pic) has applied to join Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
However, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who revealed this, remained tight-lipped when asked which component party Dr Jerip had applied to join, simply stating, “I don’t have to tell you.”
Abang Johari, who is GPS chairman, disclosed the status of Dr Jerip’s application when pressed for comments by reporters seeking clarification on Dr Jerip’s retention in his portfolio in a minor state Cabinet reshuffle Thursday despite not being a member of any of the GPS component parties. “He has always been in GPS (government). He has resigned from PSB (Parti Sarawak Bersatu),” Abang Johari said to reporters after launching ‘Bridging Trade and Investment Relations between Thailand and East Malaysia (Sarawak) Trade Forum 2019 and Business Matching’ here, yesterday.
“I will let you know lah,” he said when questioned if Dr Jerip’s application had been accepted by the undisclosed party. The chief minister said the application was still under consideration. Dr Jerip, the deputy president of PSB until he quit the party early last month, was retained in a minor state Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday.
The four component parties of GPS are Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
On another note, Abang Johari was also prompted to comment on feedback that the minor reshuffle did not increase youth representation in the state Cabinet.
He stressed that the total number of youth representatives for GPS component parties in the Cabinet was determined based on the State Constitution. “We have (Datuk) Snowdan (Lawan),” he remarked, adding that no more than the present number of youth assistant ministers could be incorporated into the Cabinet based on the State Constitution.
