Idris (left) handing over his Teras membership application form to Mawan. — Photo by Churchill Edward
KUCHING: Former PKR Petra Jaya deputy chairman and veteran candidate in several elections, Idris Bohari yesterday expressed his intention to quit the opposition and join Barisan Nasional (BN) through Teras.
After receiving a courtesy call from Idris in his Social Development Ministry office at Masja, Petra Jaya here, Teras president Tan Sri William Mawan said it was a good thing that Idris had decided to join BN through Teras.
“If people want to join us (BN), it is a positive thing because that confirms the fact that we are and have been doing the right thing. In the last parliamentary election a lot of PKR members swung to the BN. Idris is just one of those from the opposition who wish to join BN through Teras,” said Mawan, who is also Saratok MP and Pakan assemblyman.
“Let us join hands to develop the rural areas. Let us all be people-oriented and development-focussed. Politics is real and people are now starting to stay away from coffee shop politics where there is only talk and no action.
“BN is focussing on what people actually deserve. We should not be looking at our self interest. When that happens very likely we get what we want from people,” he advised Idris.
When met later, Idris stressed that he supported Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who is state BN chairman and Chief Minister.
He said Adenan had shown that he really cared for the people, which prompted him to resign from PKR last year.
At the same time, he pledged his loyalty to Mawan and that he would help him to get more voters, especially in Saratok.
Idris said he once contested against BN candidate, the late Datuk Peter Tinggom, for the state seat of Krian but lost. He also said he contested and lost against BN candidate Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz (Kalaka state seat) and Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (Pantai Damai state seat).
“With my experience and broad network in politics, I think I can be of great help to Tan Sri William Mawan. Tan Sri’s leadership quality, attributes and character are appealing to me and the public,” he said, while thanking Teras vice president Capt Zainuddin Hamdan for motivating him to join BN through Teras.