Abdullah Saidol
KUCHING: Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), which opened its state headquarters here last Sunday, will not be taken lightly by the state Barisan Nasional components in the coming state election.
State Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Abdullah Saidol said Amanah’s immediate association with DAP was not surprising since DAP Sarawak had a political appetite of accepting into their party defeated or rejected politicians.
“Their presence is not alarming but at the same time we in BN are never complacent.
“Amanah was formed by a bunch of frustrated and defeated Peninsular Malaysian politicians who basically got lost in transition and still struggling in their own political wilderness.
“We welcome healthy and ethical political campaign, and I believe all Sarawakians will despise and reject extremism and wicked politicians who promote racial tension, hostilities and confrontation,” he said yesterday.
He said Sarawakians wanted to move forward in every aspect especially in term of development, and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had been so passionate about wanting to close the gap between urban and rural areas.
He also said the chief minister was serious about pursuing Sarawak’s various interests, which now bore results with both federal and state governments agreeing on administrative devolution in several areas.
“The party, Amanah, glaringly in orange attire has no clue of its own political direction but yet got the cheek to come to Sarawak and tell us what to do,” he said.
The official opening of Amanah Sarawak headquarters at Jalan Matang here was officiated at by party president Mohamad Sabu, and attended by PKR Sarawak chairman Baru Bian and DAP Sarawak organising secretary Violet Yong.
Amanah, formed by former PAS leaders, is now part of new opposition alliance Pakatan Harapan together with DAP and PKR.
On Oct 1, DAP Sarawak and Amanah Sarawak announced that they welcomed the formation of Pakatan Harapan Sarawak to face the next state election expected anytime before June next year.
Few days later, PKR Sarawak said it was also part of Pakatan Harapan Sarawak, and expressed hope that seat negotiations with DAP and Amanah woud resume once all the details were ironed out and the pact formalised.
PAS, which has also expressed interest to contest the state election, has not joined the new pact but maintains its relations with PKR.