Unity, stability among core reasons behind PBB’s strength, says deputy president

MIRI (Sept 20): Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) culture of prioritising unity and stability to avoid division is among core reasons why the party is still standing strong today, said its deputy president Datuk Gerawat Gala.

The Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) said PBB’s presidential change from its first, Tun Jugah, to the present incumbent, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, had all gone smoothly and orderly, without causing any division within the party.

“As proven in the history of PBB, leaders and party members prioritise the interests of the party over their own interests and positions,” he said in his address for the PBB Telang Usan sub-branches general meeting, held recently.

According to Gerawat, political parties that are divided mostly stem from the fight between members who wish to become party leaders because they put their own interest first instead of the party.

“PBB’s position as the backbone of GPS (Gabungan Pari Sarawak) is due to the discipline and maturity of party members, including PBB Telang Usan members who prioritise the stability and interests of the party and not their own.

“In the history of PBB and Sarawak politics, we had never been given big and important roles in the Federal Government like now. Due to our strong unity as a GPS component party, Sarawak managed to get a very important role in the Federal Government.

“For the first time, we were given the position of Deputy Prime Minister. In fact, the number of our people being elected as ministers and deputy ministers has also increased,” said Gerawat, the assemblyman for Mulu.

On the general meeting, he said it was carried out as part of preparations for the 16th General Assembly, scheduled in February next year.

“The general meeting, at all levels, is held to evaluate and review the performance and achievements of the sub-branches, branches and the main committee over the past three years.

“This is also an opportunity for us to reorganise and organise our strategies and steps in order to maintain as well as strengthen the leadership and position of our party, so that it can overcome the challenges to come,” said Gerawat.

Furthermore, he hoped that the meeting would produce a group of strong leaders who would come forward with proposals that could empower the people of Telang Usan to further improve their socio-economy.

Also present at the meeting were PBB Telang Usan chief and Telang Usan assemblyman Dato Dennis Ngau; PBB Telang Usan secretary general and political secretary to Sarawak’s Premier, Dominic Nyurang; and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Youth chief David Yeo, representing Baram MP Dato Anyi Ngau.