Chief Minister Adenan Satem today supported the Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras)’s intention to join the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and promised to help in the application process.

Adenan, who is also Sarawak BN chairperson, said he welcomed Teras’s willingness to work closely with the state BN.

“I will inform the prime minister on this development,” he told a media conference after meeting with Members of Parliament and state assemblypersons from the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), who quit their respective parties to join Teras in his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Kuching.

However, he said, at present where was no necessity for a cabinet reshuffle.

The group was led by former SPDP president William  Mawan Ikom who quit SPDP yesterday to join Teras.

Also in the group were former SUPP Sibu branch chairperson Wong Soon Koh, who is also Bawang Assan state assemblypeson and three other SUPP state assemblypersons, Dr  Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnicol Rayong (Engkilili).    

Baram Member of Parliament Anyie Ngau and four SPDP state assemblypersons - Sylvester Entri Muran (Marudi), Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik  Biru), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) - also joined Teras.

Pelagus state assemblyperson George Lagong from SWP also quit the opposition party to join Teras.

Mawan said the courtesy call was to reaffirm their support and loyalty to Adenan’s leadership as Sarawak chief minister and Sarawak BN chairperson.

During the meeting, they also sought Adenan’s advice on the party’s direction.

“We will officially submit our application to join BN soon,” said Mawan, who is also state Social Development Minister as well as Saratok Member of Parliament and Pakan state assemblyperson.

- Bernama