Adenan beating the beduk to symbolically launch the PBB Youth Wing machinery yesterday. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
SANTUBONG: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) is considering fielding direct BN candidates in the coming state election due to ongoing squabbles among component parties and splinter groups.
Its chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said fielding such candidates had been done before.
“It has been done before, with (Puncak Borneo – formerly Mambong – MP) Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit and (former Hulu Rajang MP) Datuk Billy Abit Joo.
“This is the matter (fielding direct BN candidates) being considered now as a way to resolve this,” he told a press conference after officiating at PBB Youth Wing’s election machinery here yesterday.
When asked if this meant it would involve other component parties, Adenan remarked: “Most probably, yes.” On the distribution of the 11 new seats, he reiterated that PBB would get five of them, while PRS, SUPP and SPDP would get two seats each. In total, PBB would be contesting in 40 out of the 82 seats in the coming state
polls.
On whether there would be surprises during the election, Adenan said elements of surprise were part and parcel of any election.
“There’re always some surprises in elections. Some are pleasant, some not so pleasant.” Meanwhile, Adenan, who is also PBB president, said his party was ready for the state polls.
“We are in full gear now, starting with the Pemuda (Youth Wing) machinery. The next one will be the Wanita (Women’s Wing), followed by the ‘Bapa’ (main body of the party).
“Everybody is anticipating the election, and my advice to fellow party members is to keep calm.”
Adenan said he had yet to fix a date to seek permission from Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly.
“We have held elections before and have won all these elections, but we must not take things for granted. We must take things seriously, and at the same time, keep our cool.”
Earlier, Adenan also officiated at the closing ceremony of the party’s ‘Training of Trainers’ programme, where among those present were PBB deputy president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, senior vice president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, senior vice president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, and supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.