Sunday 26 January 2014

‘PKR Baram merely political posturing’

January 26, 2014

KUCHING: A PBB Supreme Council member believes PKR has an ulterior motive for announcing its intention to contest in Marudi and Telang Usan in the 11th state election.

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah opined that by making known its intention early, the party would have more bargaining power when it comes to seat allocation later on.

“Personally, I see it as a bit too early to make an announcement (to contest in the two seats) as the term of the current State Legislative assembly (DUN) only expires in 2016.

“PKR probably has other agendas for making an early announcement. I believe the DAP and their new ally, Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), are also keen to contest in many Bumiputera seats, so by making an early announcement, it will give them (PKR) more bargaining power,” said Abdul Karim, who is also assistant youth development minister, said in his text message.

PKR Baram branch deputy chief Roland Engan was quoted as saying yesterday that his party would contest the two seats, both housed under Baram parliamentary constituency, in the state polls.

Among others, Roland said the party was confident of winning the two seats based on the recent 13th general election result, where the party lost by a mere 194 votes. The current term of the 71-seat Sarawak Legislative Assembly expires on June 20, 2016, but the chief minister has the prerogative to dissolve the Assembly earlier.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim said the Barisan Nasional (BN) was not worried about who they would be up against in those two seats.

“Whichever opposition party that contest (there), BN is not worried. The rakyat in the two seats are matured enough to evaluate which party they can rely and trust.”

He described PKR and the DAP as ‘fly by night’ political parties that only appear just before elections. They are also devoid of a specific political vision.

Meanwhile, BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said he believed the opposition was beating the war drums now as they thought they could manipulate certain sensitive issues in Baram. But, he added, the BN had anticipated their move.

“We (BN) anticipated the move because certain sensitive issues that they think they can manipulate for their political mileage and serves their purpose, despite whatever impact/effect on the people (sic),” he said in his text message.

Dr Rundi, who is also Kemena assemblyman and assistant minister of public utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications), reminded the Dayaks to be mindful of the opposition.

“It is my duty to remind my fellow Dayaks or rural people to be mindful of these group of people and not be made used of and ruin the future of our generations.”
  

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