NICE TO SEE YOU: Taib greets Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh upon his arrival at the seminar. Also seen is state secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani (left) and Satem (right). Photo by Kong Jun Liung.
Taib says only top level national meeting can decide on admitting new members to BN
KUCHING: Any application by new political parties to join the Barisan Nasional (BN) fold would only be discussed at the next national-level BN meeting with top leaders from all the states to be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said he alone, had no power to accept or reject applications of any party to join the state BN as all BN leaders had to agree on any decision made.
“This is not for me to decide. This kind of matter would only be decided at the next Malaysia (national) BN meeting involving the top leadership from all the states,” he told reporters when met after officiating at the Sixth Malay Culture Seminar Sarawak 2013 at a hotel here yesterday.
Taib was asked whether the state BN had any room for Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), two of the five newly registered political entities in the state which had declared they were BN-friendly.
Taib added that he had no qualms over any new political parties joining the state BN component but stressed that there must be a unanimous decision among BN leaders on their application.
PBDS Baru pro-tem president Louis Jarau told a press conference at the Kuching International Airport on Sept 3 that the party would continue its predecessor’s stance on its affiliation to BN because PBDS was never sacked from the state BN coalition when it was deregistered in 2004.
“The future direction of the party will be discussed with the pro-tem committee members during our inaugural general meeting which is to be held within 90 days as required by law. For the time being, we are a BN-friendly party,” he said upon his arrival from Kuala Lumpur.
Teras pro-tem secretary-general Banyi Beriak said the party was expected to lean towards the Barisan as its founding members were mostly supporters of the BN Club which was linked to the Group of Five (G5) comprising former Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) leaders.
The five are Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie, former Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau).
Nansian, Rosey and Entri are state assistant ministers.
Peace Party pro-tem president Petrus Jelin had declared the party as independent and not affiliated to either Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan.
Petrus said the party’s mission was to play a “check-and-balance” role to the opposition and government of the day.
Parti Bumi Kenyalang and Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB) however have yet to declare their stand.
On Aug 24, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman announced that the department had approved 20 out of 30 applications for new political parties.