Expected pre-polls trend

KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Barisan Nasional (BN) is not concerned with the recent emergence of new political parties which were formed by former members of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

BN not worried about new kids in town — Awg Tengah

PBB senior vice-president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said it was quite normal to see political parties being formed when an election was just around the corner.

However, he stressed that the rakyat must not be easily swayed by these political parties which would go all out to coax them to go against the BN government.

Awang Tengah said this when asked to comment on the formation of Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB). He had earlier officiated at the ‘1Malaysia Seminar With Leaders’ at Kota Samarahan Civic Center yesterday.

“The rakyat should see these parties, which only come into existence when an election is just around the corner, as only making attempts to drive a wedge between the rakyat and the (BN) government,” he said.

Awang Tengah, however, said he believed the rakyat were smart enough to see through the selfish motives of the opposition parties.

Earlier in his speech, Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management, said it was the aim of the BN government to see that the rakyat continue to enjoy better progress in the future.

“The current government has proven its capability to bring development to the rakyat and we should defend our party’s struggles in order to continue the government’s development agenda,” he said.

He also spoke at length about the current political climate which was filled with baseless allegations thrown at the government by the opposition.

Awang Tengah hoped the rakyat would be bold enough to refute these baseless allegations which were only meant to divide the rakyat.

“We admit that the political tsunami had occurred in Semenanjung Malaysia in the 2008 general election, but I strongly believe that the rakyat in this state would not be easily influenced by this political tsunami and would continue to be with the BN,” he said.

Also present at the function were the Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohammad Ali Mahmud, Samarahan Resident Rodziah Morshidi and Sarawak Affairs Department (Jasa) director Jemat Lihi.



by Kas Alwi Sepawie
July 12, 2010, Monday