United Traditional Bumiputera Party

The United Traditional Bumiputera Party ("Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu") is a political party in Malaysia. It is currently the largest political party in Sarawak, with strongholds only in the rural areas.

Bumiputera translates to mean son of the soil. This directly relates to the natives of the soil and not other minorities. Members of the party are solely of Sarawak Bumiputera ethnicity. In the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, Sarawakian Malays, Ibans, Bidayuhs and all other 'natives' of Sarawak are classified as 'Bumiputera'.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) at early stages was formed from the combination of three parties in Sarawak. They are Parti Negara Sarawak (PANAS), Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA) and Parti Pesaka Anak Sarawak (PESAKA).

This combination is based on the effort to improve the live style and protect the rights of Bumiputera in many fields such as politics, economy and social.

The early history of its formation was based on the effort of the General Secretary of BERJASA whom was young and idealistic. He is the current chief minister of Sarawak and PBB president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud. BUMIPUTERA and PESAKA combined to form PBB on the 30th April 1973.

Tun Jugah who was Sarawak’s Internal Affairs Minister of Sarawak was appointed as the first president of PBB. Datuk Patinggi Taib was elected as the PBB president from 1981 until now after he won the post unopposed. The existence of this party as one of the major component parties has strengthened the position of the Bumiputeras.

References

* Chin, James. 2003. 'The Melanau-Malay Schism Erupts Again: Sarawak at the Polls' in Lok Kok Wah & Johan Saravanamuttu (eds.), New Politics in Malaysia (Singapore: Institute of South East Asian Studies, 2003) (ISBN 981-230-169-0) pp. 213-227

* [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5983_1622377,004300140003.htm Hindustan Times article]