Baru Bian inspired by Warisan, finds PSB 'quite attractive'

Selangau MP Baru Bian, who left PKR during the "Sheraton Move" and is now without a party, has not made up his mind on whether to join an existing party or form a new one.

In a lengthy address to his supporters today, Baru (above) said the focus now was getting through the Covid-19 crisis.

"Politics can wait," he wrote in a long essay - in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Iban - on his Facebook page today.

His essay, titled "My vision of hope for a new Sarawak", is a manifesto of sorts outlining his position on issues ranging from land matters to the economy.

Baru, who has been involved in Sarawak opposition politics since 1987, said he drew inspiration from Sabah's Warisan, which he said captured the sentiments of the state's citizens.

"(Warisan is) a local party fighting for their state rights and became a crucial player not only in determining who sits in Putrajaya but in playing a pivotal role in balancing the political process towards a truly Malaysian nation," he said.

Baru said he has examined all Sarawakian political parties, particularly those in the opposition, and found Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) to be "quite attractive".

"The objectives of PSB resonate with my ideals and I believe, with the ideals of most Sarawakians.

"Most importantly, the party promotes multi-racialism and unity," he said.

PSB was founded in 2014 as a splinter group from Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) by a faction headed by Wong Soon Koh (below). Supp is currently a member of the four-party Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.

Currently, the PSB has one MP and four state assemblypersons.

While PSB supports GPS at the state level, its allegiance at the national level is uncertain.

Up until the Sheraton Move, Baru was an influential Sarawak PKR leader with support from more than half the state's PKR division leaders.

Baru began his political career with then opposition party Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in 1987 and quit the party in 2004 when it was part of BN.

He was once a Sarawak National Party (Snap) candidate in 2006 and joined PKR in 2008. He led the state PKR chapter since 2009. - Mkini