‘BN’s door closed to Independents’

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Adenan fielding questions from reporters during the dialogue with the media fraternity at the old DUN building.

Adenan fielding questions from reporters during the dialogue with the media fraternity at the old DUN building.

KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) will not budge from its decision to not accept any winning independent candidates into its fold, even if the candidate won convincingly.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who is also the state BN chairman, said the ruling coalition is serious in its decision and this also applies to former members of BN-friendly parties – Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) and United People’s Party (UPP).

“We are serious about not accepting any independent candidates. I believe that in Sarawak, no independent candidate has ever been voted twice,” he said during a dialogue with the media fraternity at the old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building here last night.

Adenan was responding to a statement by former UPP Batu Kawah chairman Liu Thian Leong who is contesting as an independent in Batu Kawah that he saw no reason for the BN to shut him out of the coalition if he were to win the election.

Liu reasoned that the BN will not close its door to “real leaders with grassroots supports and who were also receptive to the policies of the present government”.

He pointed out that it was normal, during election time, that independent candidates were told that the BN back and front doors were closed to winning independent candidates at a press conference when launching his election manifesto.

To this, Adenan continued: “We see what happen (if he wins), but I don’t think he will bring any benefit to the constituency. Independent candidates, after being chosen, are not that useful (in most cases). I believe that in Sarawak, no Independent has ever been voted twice. Those who are still capable would seek re-election for the second time.”

Liu, who will use the key logo in the election, is involved in a three-cornered fight with Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian of the BN and Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Christina Chiew Wang See who is the incumbent.

The last person who defeated a BN candidate and was accepted to join the coalition was in 2010, when Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa was finally admitted into SUPP after four years of knocking on BN’s door.

In 2006, he stood under the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) ticket to defeat BN-SUPP candidate Jonathan Krai Pilo by a slim 426-vote majority in a straight fight.