KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which is in the midst of merger talks with Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), is confident that Barisan Nasional representatives will not cross to the opposition, PRS president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing said.

The state land development minister said he did not anticipate such a thing, even if the proposed merger between PRS and SPDP did not materialise soon.

"I don't see people jumping around. Sarawak is not a land of frogs, it (Sarawak) is the Land of the Hornbills... you remember that," he told reporters at a management seminar, "Can we really manage the future?", organised by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation here yesterday.

Masing, who was representing Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the event, said this when asked to comment on claims by Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that 30 BN MPs would leave the coalition to form a new government, and that Anwar would become prime minister on Sept 16.

On Tuesday, Anwar won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, defeating Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah of the BN and Hanafi Mamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia.
Masing said the decision of the voters must be respected.

Meanwhile, SPDP deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok said the proposed merger between SPDP and PRS could materialise before the next state election. -- Bernama