SARATOK: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has stripped the memberships of the three party members who are contesting in the Sarawak polls as Independents.

       State party chairman Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian said their membership was automatically terminated as stated in the Bersatu constitution.

       “The party gave them the time and opportunity to withdraw but they have not.

       “So now, there are no Bersatu members contesting in the state election,” he said on Sunday night (Dec 12).

       The three are Siki Balarik who is contesting in Belaga; Ricky Enteri (Bawang Assan) and Ismawi Muhammad (Muara Tuang).

       Jaziri was earlier at Chuggat Longhouse in the Krian constituency to help Saratok MP Datuk Ali Biju campaign for Gabungan Parti Sarawak candidate Friday Belik.

       Ali, who is state Bersatu vice-chairman and former Krian assemblyman, had earlier submitted his name to contest for the seat but pulled out from the race later.

       He won the seat in 2011 and 2016 polls under a PKR ticket but left the party last year and joined Bersatu.

       Bersatu had earlier decided to sit out the election and said it would support GPS instead.