Sarawak’s Dayak parties to merge

KUCHING: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) have mutually agreed to merge to consolidate the Dayaks’ political strength.
The breakthrough came following several rounds of talks between top officials of the two Dayak-based Barisan Nasional component parties.
With the agreement, the two parties have shortlisted three names for the merged new party: Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (Beras), Demokratik Rakyat Sarawak (Deras) and Bersatu Progresif Rakyat Sarawak (BPRS).
The merged new party, which has 16 state assemblymen and 10 MPs, will beat Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) to become the second biggest component in the state coalition. SUPP has 11 assemblymen and six MPs.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) led by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is the state Barisan backbone.
SPDP's secretary-general Sylvester Entrie said his party and PRS had agreed to merge as it would be in their best interests.
He said the two parties would get feedback from the grassroots on which of the three proposed names should be picked for the merged entity.

tunku : this will be a very good move both for the Dayaks community and BN. Bn is having too many parties in it. Some of the smaller parties should merge.they will have more say when the number is big.for the dayak party,do not name it beras or deras.