Sarawak's ruling party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has decided to quit BN despite a plea from BN acting chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 

According to a report by The Malaysian Insight, this will further reduce BN's parliamentary seats by 13, to only 66, and may trigger an exodus of other BN-aligned parties and politicians in the state.

The portal quoted sources saying that Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg (above, left) had informed his decision to leave BN to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, during a meeting between the two on May 31.

The chief minister also reportedly assured that Sarawak will support the Pakatan Harapan government in "matters of Sarawak interest, and in the interest of Malaysia as a whole."

Abang Johari is then said to have met interim Umno president Zahid and stated the wish to leave BN.

This allegedly lead Zahid to plead with him not go ahead with the plan, as BN will be "destroyed" if PBB left the coalition. 

To this, Abang Johari reportedly told Zahid that PBB could be destroyed in the 2021 state polls if it did not distance itself from BN’s excesses and corruption.

CM called for Sarawak BN meet on June 12

When contacted by Malaysiakini, PBB secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi (below) admitted he was in the dark about PBB's withdrawal. 

"I don't know. Abang Johari has not informed the party members, including myself, on what he had discussed with the prime minister.

"The chief minister has called for a meeting with state BN parties on June 12," he said.

"I hope whatever he discussed with Tun, he may bring it to the meeting," he added. 

PBB has replaced MCA and emerged as the second largest BN component party in the past three general elections. 

PBB won 19 parliamentary seats out of 31 seats in Sarawak. 

Soon after the May 9 general election, Sarawak governor Abdul Taib Mahmud was seen meeting Mahathir, prompting speculation that PBB might join Harapan.

Sarawak Harapan had rejected any ties with PBB.