KUCHING: Krian assemblyman Ali Biju has rubbished rumours of him joining Barisan Nasional (BN).
Ali, who is state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-chairman, said in actual fact, the rumours had been around ever since he won the last state election but he still remained loyal to PKR.
“There is no truth in the rumours of me joining BN. The rumours have been around ever since I won the state election but here I am still with PKR,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
Speculations are rife in the social media that Ali is joining BN after he was invited to present prizes to the winning teams of paddlers during the recent Pesta Benak.
The rumours were fuelled when SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom asked delegates during the party’s annual general meeting in Bintulu recently whether they wanted Ali as their representative, to which several delegates shouted ‘yes’, while others laughed. Mawan, in responding to the delegates’ reply said: “There you go…”
In explaining the reason for him presenting prizes during the recent Pesta Benak, Ali said it was a courteous gesture by the event organiser to ask him, being a people’s representative, to present the prizes.
“I always attend and sponsor teams to participate in boat competitions throughout Sarawak since 2008. Being involved with the ‘rakyat’ at all levels of society makes me understand more of their issues and problems.”
Ali’s colleague, See Chee How, remarked that BN had been enticing people like Ali and Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, adding that in Ali’s case, BN had been trying to get him to join them because they knew that “Ali is the best man in Saratok”.
“BN has their problem in Saratok which was shown in the last election and they will continue to face the same problem because they keep on saying Ali is the best even at their own (SPDP) convention.
“In the end, they (BN) will have no candidate to contest against Ali and probably, Ali will have a walkover win in Krian for the upcoming state election.”
Meanwhile, Baru said all three of them – Ali, See and him – are committed to their struggle with Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
“As far as I know, the last conversation I had with him (Ali) on this not long ago, we were quite clear as to our struggle within PR.”
Being seasoned politicians, Baru said See, Ali and him are very clear of their political objectives and would continue with their struggle until they are achieved.
Baru said the reason rumours and gossips were created was to weaken the people’s support and cause confusion as well as suspicions on the party’s leaders.