KUCHING: Sarawak PKR chief, Baru Bian does not think that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM or BERSATU) intention to enter Sarawak is not because PH Sarawak is not competent enough to face Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the next state election. “I don’t think it is a question of not competent. That is not the issue here,” Baru replied to a question from the media at a press conference held at Grand Continental Hotel here yesterday upon his return to Sarawak since being appointed as Federal Minister of Works.
“One, BERSATU has declared that they wanted to come to Sarawak. So again that is their own prerogative. No one can stop any party establishing themselves in any state in the country. So we leave that as that whether they will be able to establish themselves or whether they will be opening their branches or whether they will be going all over the state, time will tell us whether they will be there.
“Now, of course if they are coming in since they are our coalition in the federal, then of course they are expected to work together with PH Sarawak since they are with us in the federal. So, I don’t say that we are competent or confidence.
“For us now, I think we are quite established. We have been here in the state for many years, and then PH had won at the federal and in that context, I think we are moving positively in the right direction. I think it is left only for the people on the ground, Sarawakians themselves, in particular our supporters and our people in the rural areas to understand the new political landscape in the nation and the development in politics as well. I think that is what I will advise the party members to move on the ground and share this new development with our people.
“I think my emphasis is that we have changed the federal government. Now, our people in the rural areas are not very certain and then they are not even confident and they are not even aware that we can even change the government and suddenly now we have the federal government under PH while the state is still under GPS.
“I think that would really change the mindset and that is now in fact happening in Lawas itself,” said Baru who is also Ba’Kelalan assemblyman . Baru, who is also Member of Parliament for Selangau said there are many other constituencies throughout the state and now what is very important is to go to on ground and share with them (the people) that now they can change their government and also their representatives.
“So I think that is the message that I would like my members to bring to the rural areas in Sarawak,” Baru said. Meanwhile, to a question whether PH Sarawak has made any request for senators, Baru said it is their desire to have Sarawakians elected and appointed as senators. “Again that is the prerogative of the leadership of the government.
Yeah, that is our proposition but I can’t tell you who and who should be there. We only hope our recommendation will be accepted as to who represent Sarawak as senators,” he said Asked how many names have been submitted for senatorship, Baru said, “We won’t tell you how many names, but, I think if you ask how many people are interested then there are so many people interested, not only from the party, so I would not be able to confirm with you,”.
“But whatever it is we do have very qualified people that should be taken in. We leave it to the leadership to make the choice. It is their prerogative to take in any candidate from Sarawak,” he said.
