Intrigue in Sabah BN

Thursday 27 March 2014


 


Relevance of PBS in Barisan Nasional government being questioned with BN component parties allowing in 'enemies'

KOTA KINABALU: A political war is brewing between two Barisan Nasional component members – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) with the former accusing the latter of back-stabbing its president Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

This follow PBRS move to accept into its fold Kadamaian assemblyman Jeremy Ukoh Malazad, the former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) member of the State Legislative Assembly.

PBS assistant secretary general Herbert Timbun Lagadan is particularly concerned and an interested party as it was Malazad who unseated him from the non-Muslims majority seat of Kadamaian in the May 5, 2013 general elections.

The incumbent obtained 4,988 votes against Malazad’s 5,877 votes in a for-cornered contest. The two other candidates Rubin Guribah of State Reform Party garnered 1,877 votes while Sabah Progressive Party’s Peter Marajin lost his deposit after only polling 547 votes.

In the general election, PBS lost the most numbers of seats to the opposition. The party lost the state seats of Kadamaian, Tamparuli, Inanam, Api Api, Moyog to PKR, Matunggong, Kepayan and Sri Tanjong to DAP. PBS also lost the MP seat of Kota Kinabalu to DAP.

Malazad had since resigned from the opposition party and is all set to submit his membership application form to PBRS president Joseph Kurup during a gathering at his (Malazad) house in Kampung Tengkurus, Kota Belud on Saturday (March 29).

Herbert’s protest is not so much over the current Kadamaian assemblyman joining PBRS but more on how it came about, as he is curious to know whether a consensus was obtained from all the BN component parties on the matter.

“He (Kurup) must explain what is actual situation,” the former Assistant Community Service and Consumer Affairs Minister said Thursday.

He pointed out that Kurup owed PBS an explanation whether he has indeed obtained tacit approval from the Prime Minister and chairman of Barisan Nasional, Najib Razak, to accept Malazad as a member of PBRS.

“Has our Chief Minister of Sabah as BN head in Sabah, Musa Aman, been consulted on this matter? Did he (Kurup) obtain agreement from Salleh Said Keruak as Kota Belud BN chairman to accept Jeremy as a PBRS member?” he questioned.

According to Herbert, from latest information he received, Kurup and PBRS deputy president Ellron Angian are scheduled to be present at the membership acceptance ceremony this Saturday at 2pm.

A disappointed and apparently unhappy Herbert asked:“Is PBRS stabbing PBS and party president Joseph Pairin Kitingan in the back with what they seek to do? What sort of political game does Kurup want to engage in?”

“If this happens within BN, then I would like to ask whether there is still any relevancy for PBS to be in BN since Pairin, as PBS president, is being side-lined and ignored on this very important matter?”Herbert said.

Borneo Insider

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