KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Bangsa Malaysia's (PBM) effort to become the third political force in the country gained strength today when a number of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as well disgruntled former PKR and DAP elected representatives joined the multi-racial political outfit.
Their appointments came about after PBM held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) which was held following the resignation of the party's previous main office bearers.
Heading the list of new office bearers is Julau Member of Parliament, Larry Sng who was elected as PBM's new president.
Sng is a former Sarawak PKR chairman and former Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) president. The SWP was formed by his father, veteran Sarawak politician Datuk Sng Chee Hua with a group of former Sarawak People's Party (PRS) members in 2012.
PBM received ROS approval for its name change and new constitution on Oct 27 last year.
Sng said the meeting was held to fulfil the requirements of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as enshrined in the PBM Constitution following the resignation of the party's main office bearers, previously.
"All PBM leaders, delegates and observers expressed their desire to support the leadership of the ruling government today and will work hard to ensure that PBM's agenda in upholding the aspirations of the people of various races and ethnicities in Malaysia which can be implemented after this," he said in a statement posted on Facebook today.
Sng's deputy vice-presidents I and II are Lembah Jaya State Assemblyman Haniza Mohd Talha and former SPDP Meluan lawmaker Wong Judat.
The party's two new senior vice-presidents are former PKR member and Tebrau Member of Parliament Steven Choong and former DAP Buntong state assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam who defected to Bersatu.
Perak lawmaker - Tronoh assemblyman, Paul Yong Choo Kiong meanwhile has been appointed as Treasurer General.
Meanwhile, another Perak lawmaker - Malim Nawar state assemblyman Leong Cheok Keng who had politically backed Yong and Sivasubramaniam, and was subsequently sacked from DAP in January last year has been appointed as PBM supreme council member.
Sementa assemblyperson Daroyah Alwi has been appointed as PBM Wanita Chief, whereas former Federal Territories PKR Youth Chief Na'im Brundage has been appointed as Youth Chief.
Former PKR division Chief Zakaria Abdul Hamid who joined Bersatu in Dec 2020 was appointed as PBM information chief.
Former political secretary to Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin Nor Hizwan Ahmad has been appointed as PBM secretary-general.
The PBM line-up was announced during the party's EGM at RH Hotel in Sibu, today.
In a press conference, Sng said PBM was supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his government under the 'Keluarga Malaysia' concept.
Sng said the party would also focus on issues affecting women and youths, as well as the economy, science, technology and education.
He said PBM should not be regarded as a new political party.
"Rather, it is a continuation of an existing local-based party; one that is being expanded into becoming a national party, which is also reflected in the party's constitution.
New PBM line-up:
President: Larry Sng
Deputy president I: Haniza Mohamed Talha
Deputy president II: Wong Judat
Senior vice-president I: Steven Choong
Senior vice-president II: A Sivasubramaniam
Vice presidents: Rahimah Majid, Sathish Kumar, Saful Bahari Sahri
Secretary-general: Nor Hizwan Ahmad
Deputy-secretary-general: Jenny Chiew
Treasurer-general: Paul Yong
Information chief: Zakaria Abdul Hamid