Baharuddin Mokhsen
KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak has the numbers to justify the move in supporting their vice president Zuraida Kamaruddin, says its deputy chairman Baharuddin Mokhsen.
“When state information chief Desmond Kho issued a statement in fully supporting Zuraida, it is understood as a collective statement of the state leadership committee (MPN),” he said.
PKR is a party that believes in the principle of democratic consensus and collective responsibility, and if the matter is put to a vote, it would sail through, he said in a press statement yesterday.
“Allow me to explain why. There are 47 members in the MPN. Thirty are division chiefs.
“Five are automatic members by virtue of them being elected representatives and top leaders of their respective wings. Twelve are appointed members.
“Of the 47 members, perhaps only 13 may not support the chairman’s motion to support Zuraida. These 13 include only two MPs.
“The 13 members would oppose but they are clearly in the minority,” said Baharuddin.
He therefore said Kho’s statement still stands, and that those issuing statements claiming otherwise fail to understand the democratic principle of consensus.
At the divisional level, he said the divisional chiefs have the option to support whoever they wish and that the MPN does not have the authority to stifle anyone’s right to freedom of association.
One divisional chief claimed that 19 divisional chiefs had signed a statutory declaration supporting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as president and future prime minister, he said.
No one in the Sarawak MPN disputed this, he added.
“In fact, all MPN members support the president and his future ascension to the premiership. MPN also supports the deputy president and all the vice presidents. Let this be crystal clear.
“On the matter of the chairmanship of MPN Sarawak, 21 divisional chiefs have indicated their support for Baru Bian to continue leading the MPN and the state since we are facing an impending state election, and it would be in no one’s interest to cause interruption to the status quo.
“Twenty-one divisional chiefs is a clear majority of more than two-thirds of divisional chiefs in Sarawak.”
Only nine divisional chiefs are on a misguided frenzy to call for a vote of no confidence against Baru as MPN chairman, he added.
“Going down this road of playing with numbers to remove an MPN chairman means creating a precedence that would trigger similar votes in other states.
“This would throw the entire party into turmoil as not all state chiefs in Malaysia enjoy majority support of their respective state divisional chiefs,” he said.