Conmen in PERSB? - Joseph Tawie

 

Joseph Tawie | February 7, 2011

An agro-based grouping aiming to play a significant role in the coming state elections may have another problem to deal with.

KUCHING: A founding member of Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB) has alleged that there are conmen within the party who have swindled a number of people including some well-known personalities.
“I myself have been conned for some substantial amount for which I feel ‘malu’ (ashamed) to reveal the amount,” said the member, asking not be named.

According to him, the conmen would go to longhouses and villages recruiting members. Each member, he said, would have to pay RM50 for registration and RM50 for a membership card.
“Just imagine if the so-called 200,000 members pay for the registration and cards, it will come to millions of ringgit.
“This money will not be lodged into the account of the party,” he said, pointing out that he would lodge a police report soon and take legal action to recover his money.
PERSB was submitted for registration as a party last April.
Meawnwhile, Michael Jok who heads PERSB’s northern region said that he was not aware of the presence of conmen in the proposed party.
“I will look into it,” he said, refusing further comments. It is understood that the authorities were also monitoring the situation.
Big plans
When meeting the press in July last year, Jok explained that some 200,000 workers and planters involved in the planting of jatropha would participate in the “projek ekonomi rakyat Sarawak” programmes.
Financial allocations for the implementation of all the programmes under the project would be channelled through Koperasi Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Berhad.
PERSB would also market crops, livestock and handicrafts and commodities by the people such as rice, cassava, coffee, pepper, fish, chickens, goats, weaving products, beads and so on.
“Even though it is yet to be registered, PERSB already has big plans for the future of Sarawakians,” he said.
Jok said PERSB would contest in 71 state seats and had identified its candidates.
He said if the party was registered in time, PERSB would contest as united independents.