"DPM: We "paid' enough to ensure Sarawak is ours ?"

DPM: Sarawak will remain under BN

KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is confident that Sarawak will continue to be governed by the Barisan Nasional (BN) based on the track record of BN leaders in the state who were getting solid support from the federal government.

Expressing satisfaction with the state BN’s preparation for the 10th Sarawak state election on April 16, Muhyiddin said the people of Sarawak understood and valued the various efforts taken by the BN leadership towards their wellbeing.

“What is important is that we continue the development agenda under the BN through transformation programmes and will take into consideration core areas that will enable us to achieve our transformation objectives,” he told reporters after holding a meeting with leaders of BN component parties in Sarawak as well as members of Sarawak BN’s supreme council, at the headquarters of Parti Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) here today.

Also present were Sarawak Chief Minister and PBB president Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak United People’s Party president (SUPP) Dr George Chan, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president William Mawan.

Muhyiddin, who was briefed on the status of preparations by the leaders of the BN components, was pleased with the upbeat mood of the coalition’s members in activating the BN election machinery, which is led by Taib.

At the meeting, Muhyiddin said each of the BN components had submitted their list of candidates, which included new names and old faces.

However, the names of BN candidates selected would only be announced after the final list was approved by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak a day before nomination day on April 6, he said.

In helping the BN machinery, he said, the meeting decided that programmes of leaders and federal ministers would be coordinatined by the BN’s operations room here with the guidance of the state BN.

He said the BN would not take lightly the challenge from the opposition although it is reported to be facing all kinds of problems.

“No matter, we know the people know the BN can deliver because we are not having leadership problems or fighting over seats,” he said, adding that the commitment of the BN leadership to work as a team was a further plus to the coalition in giving a positive image to the people.

“BN is focused on efforts and responsibilities to help the people… unlike what is happening in the opposition,” he said.

On issues concerning the Chinese community in Sarawak, he said the BN was a fair government and party, which had been addressing issues of concern of all Malaysians, be they Malays, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Murut, Bidayuh or Muslim or non-Muslim.

“We take into consideration all these matters and want to assist all communities. We will ensure that there is continued growth and opportunities, business made easy and we will look into educational matters,” he said.

Currently, Sarawak BN controls 63 seats in the State Legislative Assembly, with DAP holding six seats, PKR and independent one each.

- Bernama