PRS-SPDP merger not so soon, says Masing

By Jacob Achoi

KUCHING: The proposed merger between Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) will not happen in the near future.

PRS president Dato Sri Dr James Masing said the merger would definitely not take place within this year.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, he said although the merger concept was still there, the implementation would be slow.

“The concept is still there, and we still believe that we must do it (merge), and the implementation is slow because to fit the ‘bolts and nuts’ does take a lot of time,” he said.

Masing had earlier received a RM500,000 cheque from Sime Darby Berhad for the improvement of infrastructure in five schools in Kapit.

According to Masing, state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also the chief minister was helping both parties to merge.

“The chief minister is helping us a lot, and actually he is the one who is giving us ideas and hints on what we should do,” Masing said, adding that Taib had also told them not to rush with the merger process.

He agreed with Taib that the merger should not be done in a hasty manner.

Taib, in his text of speech when opening SPDP’s 6th annual general assembly in Sibu on Saturday was all for the proposed merger of the two parties, but said there was no point rushing into it.

The chief minister said he himself took three years to explain before Parti Berjasa and Parti Negara finally became Parti Bumiputera in 1966.

And Masing said he was taking the hint from Taib, adding that the merger was like a marriage where the partners had to know each other before going to the altar.

Masing also said PRS did not feel threatened by the claim that many PRS members were joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

On PKR, he likened the party’s presence in the state as a mirror to see one’s shortcomings and rectify them to help and solve the problems of the people.

“PKR is like a mirror that reflects the fault on your face. If you have a black spot of pimples just correct it and you will be a better man.

“I don’t feel threatened with the mirror because I’m confident with my own face,” he explained.

According to him, PKR movement in the state was a cause for the party to review itself.

He pointed out that the party was not taking any challenge lightly, adding that the party would continue to do its ‘homework’ and listen to the grassroots about their grouses.