PARTI Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) deputy president Jerip Susil has quit the party that he joined in 2011, showing possible cracks in the beleaguered organisation.

Jerip, who is also Mambong assemblyman, did not say which party he will be joining next but pledged his allegiance to Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.

PSB is made up of disgruntled members of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) members who left with SUPP’s then deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh after a bitter 2011 party election.

PSB is also pro-Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) but has not been formally accepted into the state ruling coalition.

In a letter, dated yesterday, Jerip gave the reason that only GPS under Abang Johari “has the vision, commitment and programmes to bring better development and progress to our rural constituencies.”

“I have come to this decision after consulting the people and supporters in my constituency,” he said in his resignation letter that was made available to the media via WhatsApp this afternoon.

Jerip said he is backing Abang Johari and GPS as he is confident the Dayak people will benefit from the state government’s rural transformation plan.

“Our chief minister is steadfast and committed in protecting Sarawak rights and interests. We need to stand solidly behind him in his struggle.

Jerip, who is also state assistant minister of transportation, said his decision to quit PSB is done “in the greater interest of Bidayuh unity”.

Mambong is a Bidayuh-majority constituency.

Political analyst James Chin said Jerip’s move was no surprise as PSB has no traction in Bidayuh areas.

“He probably thinks his seat will be safer under GPS and Sarawak nationalism,” said Chin, who is director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, Australia.

Chin added that Jerip may have been pushed to leave PSB now that Wong appears to be relying heavily on former Parti Rakyat Sarawak deputy president Joseph Entulu to woo support from rural Iban voters. – July 11, 2019.