KUCHING: There is no such thing as ‘prime minister or chief minister’s men’ when it comes to choosing Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidates for the upcoming general election.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman said before deciding on BN candidates, surely Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would consult Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on who the winnable candidates from the state are.
“The prime minister, being the head of BN will have the final say in announcing the BN candidates but this must not be perceived as the chief minister not having a say!
“How would the prime minister know the personalities to be put up from Sarawak? He must consult and get views from the chief minister and the other leaders before making a decision,” he said.
Abdul Karim was asked to comment on an online news portal report that rumours are rife on Najib dropping nine of Taib’s men from the candidate lists, and that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been engaging Taib’s men.
He said the writer has an ulterior motive to strain the good relationship between the prime minister and chief minister.
Abdul Karim likened the online news to ‘surat layang’ (flying letters or rumours) of yesteryears, adding that one has to read it carefully as many online news portals are managed by unscrupulous agents of the opposition aiming to arouse hatred for the government and BN leaders.
“They are irresponsible and merely want to pit the races against each other,” he said.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said: “I think it is a speculation by the news portal. They are fishing in muddy waters! We shouldn’t give it much credence.”
State BN Youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof when contacted preferred not to comment on the rumours.
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