Be 'honourable' and quit Batu Lintang seat, PSB tells See

Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has urged Batu Lintang assemblyperson See Chee How to "act honourably" by quitting his elected seat to pave way for a by-election.

In a statement today, the party said See (above) had signed a pledge to the party promising to resign as an assemblyperson should he defect.

"We clearly informed each potential candidate that if their intention was to 'jump ship' after winning as a PSB candidate, they should not accept the candidacy and never sign the pledge and agreement.

"More so than any other candidate, See as a senior lawyer would appreciate and understand what he was signing and undertaking.

“And he signed in front of a number of other people without reservation or condition," said the party.

Last December, See secured a third term as the Batu Lintang assemblyperson, under PSB’s ticket. However, he quit the party last week.

Never complained before

After quitting, See said his written pledge to the party might not have fulfilled Article 17 of the Sarawak Constitution, which among others, was designed to discourage lawmakers from defecting.

Meanwhile, PSB chided See for claiming that he was leaving the party to "stay out of party politics".

The party said that while See was a member, he was automatically part of the presidential council by virtue of being an assemblyperson.

"See was involved in many of PSB’s decisions including the interview and selection of candidates for election. At all times, See was accorded deference as an assemblyperson and former PKR leader.

"There was never any complaint about 'party politicking' from See. So, we are taken aback that he has chosen to use 'party politics' as his reason for leaving us after winning the seat as a PSB candidate," the party said. - Mkini