Adenan gets party’s support to open PBB’s door to BN direct candidates who won in last state election, to consult state BN partners
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem
KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) members have given their full support to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to accept the nine partyless Bumiputera state assemblymen into their party.
Speaking at the PBB Kuching Zone Hari Raya Aidilfitri dinner gathering at BCCK here on Thursday night, the chief minister said personally he would accept all of them but he still had to discuss with his colleagues in the state Barisan Nasional (BN).
Turning to the PBB members at the gathering he said to do that he needed their approval first.
“I need your support to admit these nine YBs (elected representatives) into PBB. Do I have your support?” he asked PBB members at the dinner gathering.
They responded with loud applause to indicate their support for him to do that, to which he said, “That gave me strength.”
Adenan, who is also the president of PBB, acknowledged that if PBB were to rope in the nine partyless assemblymen, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak Democratic Progressive Party (SPDP) and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) the other state BN component parties might construe that PBB was greedy for power.
On the other hand he said with the nine joining PBB, the party would have 49 seats in the 82-seat State Legislative
Assembly and would be able to form the state government on its own.
However, he pointed out that the state BN would stick to its power sharing agreement and assemblymen from other state BN component parties would still be in the state Cabinet.
“With 49 seats, PBB can rule the state with a comfortable majority. But then again, it does not mean that state BN do not subscribe to the power sharing concept.”
Adenan added that it was important for PBB members to be united to enable them to help other BN component parties.
He pointed out that PBB had assisted SUPP candidates Dr Sim Kui Hian and Lo Khere Chiang to win Batu Kawah and Batu Kitang respectively in the last state election.
The nine partyless Bumiputera state elected representatives are Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (Pakan), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili),
Ranum Mina (Opar), Datuk Gerawat Gala (Mulu), Miro Simuh (Serembu) and John Ilus (Bukit Semuja).
They resigned from their respective parties namely Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), United People’s (UPP) and PBB before the May 7 state election to contest as BN direct candidates.
Among those present at the function were deputy chief minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Adenan’s wife, Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu, and several state elected representatives and MPS from PBB.
Also speaking that night were Abang Johari who is PBB deputy president and dinner organising chairman Fazzruddin Abdul Rahman who is also new Tupong assemblyman.