KUCHING, Oct 26 — Datuk Larry Sng insisted today that he was still the president of Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and the only one authorised to sign the credentials for its candidates to contest in the 15th general election.

Despite PBM previously saying Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin has replaced him, the former PKR MP maintained that he was the rightful and only president of the party. "As president of the party, I have never resigned from my position nor relinquished my party membership,” the incumbent Julau member of parliament said on his Facebook page.

Sng then dismissed previous announcements by party leaders about the PBM presidency as speculation.

"The official announcement will be made by myself and only I will sign the credentials for PBM in GE15,” he said.

Sng said the party has its roots in Sabah and Sarawak, adding that it is important that "our voices and representation is not ignored or marginalised.”

He then said he will be contesting on the PBM ticket in the general election.

"As for the status of PBM’s other candidates for GE15, it is a matter which I will announce in the coming days,” he added.

On October 8, PBM secretary-general Nor Hiizwan Ahmad announced that caretaker plantation industries and commodities minister Zuraida had replaced Sng as the new president of PBM.

He said the PBM supreme council had on October 7 confirmed seven motions that were unanimously approved, including Zuraida’s appointment.

Another former PKR MP said Zuraida quit Bersatu for PBM in June and was then named as its president-designate.

In August, Zuraida claimed that PBM would not contest any seats in Sarawak but Sng declared earlier this month that he would be defending his Julau seat.

PBM has applied to join Barisan Nasional, but was still awaiting the coalition’s decision.