“We have accepted Jerip as a member of PBB. It was a unanimous decision,” he told reporters after the party’s Supreme Council meeting here today.

Jerip had remained independent after he left Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) in July following the cutting of funds for minor rural projects and the rural transformation programme for PSB’s elected representatives since April.

Later, in August, it was reported that Jerip had applied to join GPS. He was appointed as Sarawak’s assistant transport minister in a state Cabinet reshuffle.

Jerip said he believed that only GPS, under the leadership of Abang Johari, could bring development and progress to the rural constituencies in Sarawak.

During the meeting, Abang Johari said they also planned to strengthen the collaboration among the party’s members in the state as well as the party’s relationship with other GPS coalition parties.

Among other things discussed in the meeting were the 2020 Budget and ways to strengthen the joint action council, chaired by Works Minister Baru Bian and Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas, set up by the federal and the Sarawak governments to focus on the state’s development.

“Any federal initiative coming to Sarawak must be deliberated by this committee first. You cannot decide on your own.

“This is why we have the joint committee so there will be no conflicts and to prevent a waste of resources.

“In fact, the appointment of village community management councils (MPKK) should be deliberated within the joint action council so that we can find ways to manage it.

“Otherwise, it would be against the agreement we had with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.”