13th GE win ‘critical’ to prosecute Taib

Joseph Tawie

‘We must win the next parliamentary election so that we have the power to prosecute our friend the chief minister,’ says Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian

The 13th parliamentary election is of critical importance for the people because it will give “us the power to prosecute” Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, said Sarawak PKR.

Kick-starting its preparations for the coming general election with a series of Gawai dinners, state PKR chief Baru Bian said:

“We must win the next parliamentary election so that we have the power to prosecute our friend the chief minister.

“That is why this coming election is of critical importance because even if we won the state election, politically and legally we cannot prosecute him.

“We need that power, and that rests in all states of Malaysia.” Themed “berakup kitai menang” (united we win), Bian said the Gawai dinners, which will be held in Bintulu, Miri, Sibu and Limbang, aside from celebrating comradeship and giving thanks for their success in the April 16 state election, was also aimed at preparing for the GE.

He said that although Pakatan Rakyat failed to win the state government, the coalition had won with the increase in collective votes for the opposition as compared to the Barisan Nasional (BN) whose popularity votes droppd from 63% to 55%.

He said that Pakatan’s increased support was evident among the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Chinese and Malay voters.

“In our post-mortem, we found that the issues that contributed to our failure to capture the state government included the use of dirty tactics, gangsters, money politics, promises of projects and threats against the headmen and government agencies by the state BN.

“These tactics are dirty and unfair,” he added, pointing out that they had also identified their own weaknesses.

“We were too complacent with the sentiments for us on the ground and also strong issues. Because of these we forgot about our machinery, forgot to open our branches, recruit members and register voters,” he said.

Lively debates

Bian said that the public had understood their struggle and realised that Pakatan is now an alternative to the BN.

“But the people are not yet prepared to give their absolute confidence to the Pakatan.

“All branch leaders and members not only must learn from their weaknesses, but also must continue the struggle and to strengthen their presence in every longhouse and village in order to gain the confidence of the people,” he said.

On PKR’s relationship with DAP, Bian said after the election the people heard the relationship between the two parties was not that good due to the shadow cabinet line-up and other issues.

Assuring members that the party is prepared to move on together with DAP, Bian likened the relationship of the two parties to a marriage where there are bound to be problems.

“This is the process in Pakatan Rakyat, and I guarantee that with sincerity and transparency in our political struggle nothing is impossible.

“Together with DAP, we will give the BN ministers lively debates in the state assembly sitting from June 20, 2011.

“We assure you we will propose what has been stated in our manifesto, and it is up to them to accept our suggestions and ideas especially on land matters,” he said.