SARAWAK POLLS | Speculations of disagreements among a group of PKR defectors is being further fuelled after Bersatu supreme council member Zuraida Kamaruddin said she was prepared to consider joining Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).
"I have not received any offer yet. I don't know yet, I will consider. God-willing. If there is an offer from anyone, I will consider it," Zuraida (above) was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
A key figure in the setting up of PBM is former Sarawak PKR chief Larry Sng, who is also the Julau MP.
PBM was created from the takeover of the Sarawak Workers Party, which was founded by Larry's father Sng Chee Hua.
PBM's senior vice-president is Tebrau MP Steven Choong, who was formerly also from PKR.
The report said there has been a push for Zuirada to lead PBM. PBM's current president Mohmad Sukri Yusri is a relative unknown while its deputy is Larry.
The group of PKR defectors, led by its former deputy president Azmin Ali and ex-vice-president Zuraida, had initially planned to form their own party but mostly later ended up joining Bersatu.
In recent months, there have been talks if whether the PKR defectors should remain in Bersatu or resume with the plan to form their own party.
Joining Bersatu has caused problems for Sarawakian MPs within the group who no longer have a platform to contest in the election.
This is because Bersatu won't contest in Sarawak out of respect for the incumbent state ruling coalition GPS.
Defection from PKR to Bersatu
GPS' term for cooperation has been for its allies not to contest in the state, a condition that has also kept Umno out.
GPS, together with BN, PN and PBS, are part of the federal government. Bersatu leads the PN coalition while Umno leads BN.
Among the Sarawak leaders who defected from PKR to Bersatu include Saratok MP Ali Biju and Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin.
Sng is aligned with the group but has not joined Bersatu. Another MP in a similar position as Sng is Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang.
Faced with the predicament, Ali went rogue and fielded himself as an independent candidate in Krian, where he is also the incumbent in the state seat.
He later withdrew his candidacy after Bersatu intervened but his name will still appear on the ballot paper.
Zuraida said she supported Ali's decision and hope his supporters will back the GPS' candidate Friday Belik.
Ali had appealed to GPS to allow him to defend his Saratok federal seat under Bersatu in the next general election which is due in 2023 but GPS has instead asked Ali to walk the talk and back the GPS candidate in Krian.
The Sarawak polls will take place on Dec 18. - Mkini
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