Bersatu dissolves membership of three candidates contesting as independents in the state election

Malaysia – Bersatu Sarawak head Senator Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian said that the three members of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) who are running as Independents in the 12th Sarawak state election have had their membership revoked automatically.

The three have been named as Siki Balarik, who is competing in Belaga, Ricky Enteri (Bawang Assan), and Ismawi Muhammad (also from Bawang Assan) (Muara Tuang).

According to the Bersatu Constitution, because there are no Bersatu members contesting the election, their memberships in the organization have already been terminated automatically. He added that they had given them enough time and opportunity to withdraw (from competing), but they did not do so, and as a result, their membership in the organization was immediately revoked.

According to him, “Bersatu is adamant in its decision not to participate in the Sarawak election.”

He made this statement after being present at the Chunggat Longhouse in Munggu Ubah yesterday to assist Bersatu Sarawak vice-chairman Datuk Ali Biju in his campaign for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Friday Belik for the Krian state seat.

As previously announced by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Ali, the incumbent, caused a stir when he submitted his candidature as an Independent candidate in Krian on Monday (Oct 6). This was in direct opposition to the party’s position that it would not contest the election and would instead provide full support to GPS candidates.

But Ali then had a change of heart and declared his desire to withdraw from the fight for the seat in order to maintain and deepen relations between the Perikatan Nasional (PN) and GPS. After this, a number of GPS leaders called on Ali to provide an explanation to the Krian electorate on his withdrawal.

Members of Bersatu who run for the Sarawak election without party approval would face serious repercussions, including having their membership terminated immediately, warned the party’s information head, Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, earlier this month.