Sarawak BN and Oppositions say NO to overthrowing govt by force

May 15, 2013

“Pre-emptive laws should be used to stop those with evil intent on their track!” Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: State politicians from both sides of divide agreed that taking to the streets to overthrow the Barisan Nasional (BN) government through force is against the country’s constitution and a threat to national security.

Six-term Santubong MP Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar condemned the call by ABU (Anything But Umno) leader Haris Ibrahim and PKR vice-president Tian Chua to overthrow BN through “force”.

The former Parliamentary deputy speaker said taking to the streets to overthrow the government is tantamount to a revolution.

“The police or even the military should take action and put away the political leaders who incited the people to overthrow the BN government,” Wan Junaidi told the Borneo Post.

Citing the examples of Egypt, Libya, Syria and Tunisia, he said the people of these countries had resorted to remove the ruling regimes by force but these countries were still plagued with problems.

“They (opposition leaders) joined the fold and participated in the election process. When they lost, they claimed that they don’t have faith in the system.

“The fact is that they failed to convince the people,” said Wan Junaidi.

PKR fighting for justice without justice within — Karim

January 4, 2011

KUCHING: Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, yesterday chided Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) for claiming to fight for justice while failing to dispense justice within the party itself.

He reminded PKR vice-president Baru Bian to ‘cakap mesti mau serupa bikin’ (walk the talk) and not hoodwink the rakyat by brushing aside fundamental issues in PKR as petty issues.

“How can you claim to fight for justice, good governance and transparency when you and your party are not practising it?” he asked in reference to the many unresolved internal PKR issues as claimed by several party former leaders like Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Baru, who is also PKR Sarawak chief, when asked last Sunday to comment on the resignation of Jeffrey said the party would not lose its strength in Sarawak.

He believed voters in Sarawak would still vote for PKR and Pakatan Rakyat for a change in government as there were more important issues like land rights and the need for better infrastructure to look into.

“Whether it will affect the ground support or not, it’s just speculation (at the moment). The bottom line is bread-and-butter issues for the people,” said Baru.

Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman and State Barisan Nasional Backbenchers chairman, pointed out that Baru and PKR could not brush aside fundamental issues against the party.