Is linchpin PBB becoming the 『Umno』 of Sarawak?
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by Joseph Tawie
ELECTION TALK: Several quarters in Sarawak, including those in the state Barisan Nasional have expressed fears that Chief Minister and president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Adenan Satem is becoming increasingly autocratic in dealing with fellow coalition partners.
Some have even gone as far as accusing him of turning PBB into the 『Umno』 of Sarawak. In Malaya, Umno is seen as arrogant and not respecting coalition partners like MCA, MIC and Gerakan.
In Sarawak, some BN leaders, especially from Sarawak United People’s Party and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, have accused Adenan of not respecting or tolerating the differing views of component parties.
His critics say he imposes his iron-fisted rule on others, complaining that he is fielding direct candidates – for example in the newly created seats of Bukit Simuja, Serembu and Mulu – who lean towards PBB.
The way he treats SUPP and SPDP, both of whom are BN members by giving some of their traditional seats to their opponents, has also made leaders and members of the two parties very unhappy.
SUPP which has always been allocated 19 seats has already lost seven seats to its 『bitterest rival』 United People’s Party under the guise of BN direct candidates. The seats are Opar, Mambong, Engkilili, Bawang Assan, Dudong, Pelawan and Pujut.
SUPP is only allowed to contest 13 seats, including the new seat of Batu Kitang.
SPDP, on the other hand, has lost Pakan, Bekenu and Batu Danau to Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak. The former is only allowed to field candidates in Tasik Biru, Marudi, Krian, Meluan and Ba』Kelalan.
In the last election, PBB contested 35 seats. With the increase in the number of seats from 71 to 82, PBB has taken five more seats, bringing the number of seats it is going to contest to 40.
Secretly, it is eyeing Bukit Simuja, Serembu and Mulu, and Adenan has selected three civil servants who are known to lean towards PBB as BN direct candidates.
Why did he select civil servants for the three seats?
Perhaps, he wants to avoid complications as the seats are also claimed by SUPP and SPDP besides PBB. His strategy appears to be that he wants the three, if they win the seats, to make their own choice as to which party they want to join.
Their personal choice will absolve Adenan of any blame later.
It will be stupid of them not to join PBB, the backbone of the state government; a party that can offer them political comforts.
But their joining PBB will increase the party’s seats to 43, and fellow component partners are feeling uneasy.
These are the main concerns of other component parties as expressed by PRS president James Masing who warned that if PBB were to form the government on its own it would be detrimental to Sarawak.
「Other communities would lose their voice in the government, and parties like PRS, SUPP and SPDP will become irrelevant,」 warned Masing.
SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian expressed disappointment with the way his party was being treated by Adenan.
SUPP candidate for Pending Milton Foo accused Adenan of 「trampling the dignity」 of his political allies, and of failing to consult other BN component parties for a consensus.
「This is not only a violation of the agreement among the BN component parties including SUPP, it is also disregarding the loyalty of the component parties.
「People want to see a chief minister who walks his talk, not an authoritative and dictatorial leader to lead Sarawak regaining its autonomy and protect state interest,」 he said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said that with the way Adenan was handling the seat arrangement in BN, it was obvious that he was creating PBB as the 『Umno version』 in Sarawak.
「Any political observer can see this trend. It will not be very healthy for Sarawak. Sarawakians should be forewarned,」 he said.
- See more at: http://www.theantdaily.com/Main/Is-linchpin-PBB-becoming-the-Umno-of-Sarawak#sthash.ucainpjM.dpuf