KUCHING: As widely speculated, Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng
offered himself to be the new Sarawak PKR chairman.
“Yes, that is right. I am offering myself. Anyone is free to offer himself,” he said when met yesterday.
He was approa-ched while waiting for PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s arrival to chair a closed-door Sarawak PKR meeting to vote on a new PKR Sarawak chairman, at a leading hotel here.
Works Minister Baru Bian, the three-term Sarawak PKR chief, who was expected to defend the post, however, was missing from yesterday’s meeting.
However, it is learned that Baru was not able to make it to the meeting due to prior engagement in Lawas.
PKR later issued a statement to clarify Baru’s absence.
“YB Baru is in Lawas for several events scheduled in advance that could not be postponed. He had informed the president of the matter on Monday and he (Anwar) accepted the reason for exemption,” the statement said.
It is understood that Anwar was informed of this earlier in the week.
The meeting was for the state PKR’s 29 division chiefs to decide on the new state chief and also members of the state committee.
Asked when the result would be announced, Anwar said it was likely to be announced today.
“There are a few things I need to look at. If possible, I’ll announce it tomorrow (today). Usually, I will seek a majority decision in every state although I have powers of prerogative as president.
“There’s no denying that competition (for the post) is very fierce and the young leaders are quite vocal. Whatever it is, we need to move forward, think of the party’s interests,” he said.
Anwar was received on arrival at the hotel at around 3pm by Dr Teo.
There has been intense lobbying for the Sarawak PKR chairman’s post after the recent PKR central stormy elections.
Unlike other states, where the PKR president decides on their branch chiefs, PKR Sabah and Sarawak are given autonomy to elect their own respective branch chairman.
So far, the names of state PKR chairmen that had been announced included Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak (Perak), Aminuddin Harun (Negeri Sembilan), Datuk Johari Abdul (Kedah), Datuk Christina Liew Chin Jin (Sabah), Zahir Hassan (Kuala Lumpur) and Halim Bachik (Melaka).
Besides Dr Teo, also present at the meeting were Julau MP Larry Sng, Saratok MP and Krian assemblyman Ali Biju, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin.
Meanwhile, the Malay Mail reported Baru as saying that the result of the voting for the state chief’s post would be announced by Anwar himself in Kuala Lumpur.
“It is up to him when he wants to announce. This practice is nothing new. It has been done in the past,” the Malay Mail quoted him a saying..
On Dr Teo’s challenge , he said every member had the right to contest the post.
