SIBU: There will be no united front in the newly formed state Pakatan Rakyat Council as parties aligned under PR have never been able to consolidate in Sarawak.
PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this was because there was no difference from the earlier PR when the pact was claimed to be a united platform.
“Since when has DAP, PKR, PAS and now SWP been able to work together in Sarawak? They align themselves under PR but that is only to hoodwink us that they are ‘united’.
“Come election, they start bashing each other and fight over who should contest. Every party wants to contest practically every seat that is available for contest,” said Karim, who is Asajaya, assemblyman.
“Now, they form the state Pakatan Rakyat Council, which is no different from the earlier PR that they claimed as a united platform. People are not easily taken in by all these names.
“It is just the same snake that has shed its skin. There will be no united front among them,” said Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development.
He was asked if the newly formed council would see PR working as a united front.
State PKR chairman Baru Bian said the council comprised five members from each party aligned to PR, namely PKR, DAP and PAS.
Baru had said the council would decide on seat negotiations among PR parties to avoid overlapping claims in the 11th state election.
The newly-minted council was reported to have unanimously agreed that PKR would contest in Balingian in the event a by-election is called.
Baru reportedly said his party had at least two candidates in mind.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim reckoned that it would not be a straight fight between BN and PR in a Balingian by-election.
He reasoned that apart from PKR, PAS was also seen to be keen on the seat.
The participation of other new parties recently registered and independent could also not be discounted as they might join the fray as well, he said.
He, however, said it was premature for him to comment and speculate.
“However, I can say that BN will win hands down in that seat in event of a by-election. It is a BN and PBB stronghold,” he said.
Earlier, state BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi had said they were prepared to face-off with the opposition in the BN stronghold.
“We (BN) are always ready in unity to face the opposition, it does not matter (if it is) a straight fight or with any independent, we never underestimate our opponent(s). We will not take anything for granted,” Dr Rundi said.
The state Election Commission (EC) was reported to be preparing for a by-election.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had said the EC could hold a by-election for the Balingian seat if the incumbent, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud vacates the seat before June 21.
The state assembly’s term will expire on June 20, 2016 but the chief minister has the prerogative to dissolve it earlier.
In the 10th state election, Taib won with a huge majority of 5,154 votes.
He garnered 6,210 votes in the three-cornered fight, while Datuk Salleh Jafaruddin on an Independent ticket polled 1,056 and PKR first-timer Suriati Abdullah, 871 votes.
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