Abdullah Saidol
KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will uphold its political integrity and not act like ‘frog’, says Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs Abdullah Saidol.
He said PBB and state Barisan Nasional (BN) were not desperate to join Pakatan Harapan (PH) as rumoured simply because they remained clear about their political strength.
As such, he termed the rumours of PBB intending to join PH as absurd.
He even said that state PH and Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s self-flattering assumption that PBB intended to join PH was ‘outright hogwash’.
He felt that Chong should explain his jumpy reaction to the ill-founded rumours.
“If Chong wishes to unilaterally catch thieves and corrupt politicians, perhaps Chong should also investigate those leaders in their own den too. Don’t be hypocrite and practise double standard,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He wondered if Chong’s alleged corruptions and misdeeds referred to the new prime minister whom both DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had fought and demonised vigorously during the leader’s 22-year tenure from 1981.
Abdullah said DAP and PKR were the ones who whitewashed those corrupt leaders currently collaborating with them in PH.
He added that Chong’s talks on DAP’s long history of struggle along the lines of integrity and suggested that those who wished to hop over to PH must be vetted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) was an irony.
“Another ironic fact is that all PH candidates were never referred to and vetted by MACC before being nominated.”
Abdullah said PBB is part of a legitimate BN Sarawak coalition which is an elected government of Sarawak.
He also reminded all that Sarawak is a party to an agreement that conceived this country called Malaysia.
“PBB and our comrades in BN Sarawak have genuinely experienced long grown-up political history and going through the evolution of modern Sarawak unlike those political parties in PH Sarawak who are being remote-controlled by their leaders from Peninsular Malaysia.
“We Sarawakians are always proud of ourselves and will stay united in diversity. We appreciate the democratic principle of mutually agreeing to disagree.
“We respect the people’s verdict with an open heart and pledge to work even harder for the interest of all Sarawakians.”
He added that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had made it clear that the state BN government is prepared, within the ambit of a federal system, to administratively cooperate with the elected federal PH government.
He said BN Sarawak would ensure that such cooperation would not be detrimental or diminish Sarawak’s interest, and must be in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
Sarawak government would also closely monitor the progress of PH’s efforts to fulfil their manifesto or promises especially those related to Sarawak’s interest, he added
He said the state government under the leadership of Abang Johari would not abandon its solid desire to pursue the devolution of powers from the federal government, and to regain all legitimate rights of Sarawak enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) or stipulated under the Federal Constitution.
“We will consider all available options to ensure our demand will earn the desired attention, respect and result. This political enthusiasm of Sarawak government is nothing else but for the interest and future of all Sarawakians. May God bless and save this country,” added Abdullah.