Manyin: Bersatu has no impact in Sarawak

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Dato Sri Michael Manyin

Dato Sri Michael Manyin

SERIAN: The new political party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), will not have any impact in Sarawak even in the run-up to the next general election.

Minister of Youth and Sports and Solidarity Dato Sri Michael Manyin said the party would be rejected even though its membership was open to all natives including Dayaks who are the majority in Sarawak.

“I don’t think Dayaks will be that easy to influence to join the party because they have been well taken care of by the Bumiputera parties in state Barisan Nasional like PBB, SPDP and PRS. Even SUPP has Dayak representatives and members.

“I don’t think it has any effects on us, and I believe Sarawak will reject that party,” he said.

Manyin, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president, said this after officiating at the swearing-in of Serian District Council councillors at Dewan Masyarakat Serian here yesterday.

To another question, he reiterated his belief that this new party would not have any impact in Sarawak for the coming general election as Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has proven his capability. ‘Team Adenan’, which is the state Barisan Nasional candidates in the May 7 state election, has made inroads not just in rural areas but also in urban areas which resulted in the state BN winning 72 out of the 82 seats.

Bersatu, a party mooted by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was formally registered on Tuesday at the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) headquarters in Putrajaya by its pro tem president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Sacked deputy prime minister Muhyiddin, who was also sacked by Umno recently, was quoted as saying that membership of the party was open to Malaysians with Bumiputera status which include Malays, Orang Asli and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Other Malaysians can also join as associate members. They will have the same rights as normal members, except that they cannot vote or contest in party elections.

“However, they can be appointed to positions in the party,” Muhyiddin was quoted as saying in media reports.