Adenan speaking to the press during the programme.
KUCHING: No Independent candidates will be admitted into the Barisan Nasional (BN) even if they are elected in the coming election.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem highlighted this at the ‘Chief Minister Meets the Press’ programme held at the Old State Legislative Assembly today (April 26).
“There are 35 Independent candidates contesting in the 11th state election. The Independent candidates are just funny people,” he said.
In categorising them, he pointed out there were the ones who wanted to be bought, the frustrated ones, the sponsored ones and the genuine ones.
“I have been in politics for so long. I’ve noticed that there are the genuine Independent candidates but they know they can’t do anything even if they win. So they hope to be taken into BN thereafter,” he explained.
Noting that it had happened in the past, Adenan however gave a stern reminder that they (the Independents) would not be admitted into BN this time under his leadership.
“The typical example is the one who wants to be bought, thinking they can make some money out of it, but ending up not been bought, so they leave the constituency and stay home,” he said.
“The frustrated ones are those who think they are the best but later are not nominated so they ‘merajuk’ (throw a tantrum) and go independent,” he added.
While those sponsored by some “big bosses”, he elaborated, would pocket 90 per cent of the sponsored money but won’t be campaigning.
“That is like cheating,” he said, reiterating the fact that in the political history of Sarawak, no Independent candidate has been voted in twice.