Wong was named senior vice-president of PDP, which is led by Tiong King Sing, the federal minister for tourism, arts and culture.

His deputy, Engkilili assemblyman Johnical Rayong, was named vice-president together with secretary-general Baru Bian, who was federal works minister under the Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pakatan Harapan government of 2018-2022.

All PSB members were accepted en bloc as members of PDP after the Registrar of Societies approved of PSB’s dissolution on March 19, Wong said.

PDP president Tiong said the appointment of Wong as senior vice-president was done after taking into account his extensive experience, Bernama reported.

The appointments were announced at a dinner reception in Sibu to welcome PSB leaders and members into PDP.

Wong said members of PDP and PSB were now united into one big family. “We were ‘engaged’ since last year and now we are ‘married’,” Wong said, the Borneo Post reported.

Tiong said the positions of other former PSB leaders would be determined at a special general meeting to be held later.

He urged all PDP members to accept those from PSB as part of one big family serving the development of Sarawak and the future of all its people.

He said the entry of PSB members into PDP had received the approval of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak leadership. GPS also includes Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party and Parti Rakyat Sarawak.

With PSB’s three assemblymen joining PDP, GPS now holds 79 out of 82 seats in the Sarawak legislative assembly.