PSB denies offering money to ex-works minister Baru Bian to join it

Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has rubbished a claim by Sarawak Report that the party had offered a financial reward to former works minister Baru Bian for him to join it.

In a media statement issued today, PSB dismissed the whistleblower website's report that former PKR state chief Baru (above) and several others were induced by money to become members of the party.

“This report is totally false as PSB has never offered Baru any reward, financial or otherwise, to join PSB.

“Such malicious falsehood is not only defamatory of PSB but it is also character assassination of Baru, a man with principles who would rather give up his post as works minister than to support or join an unelected government.

“The ones who published the defamatory article made no effort whatsoever to seek any clarification from PSB before making such vile allegations,” the PSB secretariat said in its statement.

The party secretariat added that the allegation was cooked up by certain quarters spooked by PSB’s rising popularity as a multi-racial independent political party based in the state.

“It (the allegation) is no doubt engineered by parties who are now frightened by the surge in popularity of PSB as a Sarawak-based multi-racial independent political party, particularly since the ruling coalition in Sarawak, GPS was instrumental in installing Umno and PAS in government in Putrajaya despite the fact that they lost the last general election.

“PSB is confident that the people of Sarawak are intelligent and politically mature enough not to fall for such malicious lies,” the PSB secretariat said.

In an exclusive on its portal last night, Sarawak Report alleged that multiple sources informed it that Baru and the remainder of his supporters will join PSB, a party which the portal claimed is funded by Sarawak’s wealthy timber families.

Among other allegations, the portal also claimed that PSB was a vehicle for Sarawak Governor Taib Mahmud’s to regain active control of the state, 

As of present, it is understood that Baru has declined to comment on the PSB issue. - Mkini