KUCHING: A new theory has emerged as uncertainty continues to surround the political scene in Sarawak following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) huge defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Speculation is rife that Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the political party spearheading Sarawak BN, will likely leave the coalition in the state.
The party, however, will not switch allegiance and join Pakatan Harapan but instead will form a new locally-based political alliance in Sarawak.
Sources close to PBB told the New Straits Times that the proposal will be discussed and deliberated during the party’s supreme council meeting at the PBB headquarters in Jalan Bako, Petra Jaya, near here on Wednesday.
The sources did not elaborate if the new coalition will support BN or the newly-elected Pakatan Harapan government or remain independent of any link to Peninsular-based political parties.
“Many leaders in PBB are aware of this plan, which will be discussed during the party’s supreme council meeting.
“It is expected PBB will announce to quit BN. Other component parties in the coalition in the state will follow suit and join the new political front in Sarawak,” sources said.
Apart from PBB, the other three component parties in Sarawak BN are Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
Earlier today, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is also PBB deputy president, confirmed that the party would be holding its supreme council meeting on Wednesday.
Awang Tengah, however, declined to elaborate on the agenda to be discussed the meeting. He kept mum on the possibility on PBB joining Pakatan Harapan.
PBB vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the party would not jump ship and join Pakatan Harapan.
Rumours suggesting that the party would be switching allegiance started following reports of a meeting between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud in Kuala Lumpur.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing confirmed that the two leaders met since the Head of the State made frequent trips to Kuala Lumpur.
The NST learnt that the Head of State, who was the chief minister for 33 years, has returned to the state capital today ahead of the PBB’s supreme council meeting.