Some leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) have been accused of sowing discord among the component parties by protecting the interests of those who have left BN and by trying to bring them back into the coalition.

 

Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Tasik Biru chairperson Cila Naru criticised Peter Minos, a PBB leader, for saying that PBB could accept past opponents and rivals including those who bitterly fought against the party.

 

Minos had praised Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem for introducing the ‘BN-Plus’ concept to solve the disputes between SPDP and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) and between Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and United People’s Party (UPP) over seat allocation.

 

Teras was formed by expelled SPDP leaders after a leadership crisis. Similarly, UPP was formed by expelled SUPP leaders.

 

‘BN-Plus’ concept

In Sarawak, those who jump ship are known as ‘political frogs’.

 

Minos had said that the ‘BN-Plus’ concept used to solve the disputes between the then Sarawak National Party and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak over seat allocation in 1983, should be used to solve the problems of seat allocation between SPDP and Teras and between SUPP and UPP.

 

This concept, according to Minos, would bring unity to BN and prevent the implosion of the coalition.

 

“This claim is illogical and insensitive to the stand of three of the four BN component parties. Instead of promoting unity, the BN-Plus concept, if forced upon SPDP, SUPP and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) would split the state BN,” said Naru in a statement.

 

He said: “In the first place it is a practical impossibility since the adoption of the arrangement must have the unanimous agreement of all the BN parties.

 

“It is arrogant of Minos to imply that PBB can decide on behalf of the rest of the State BN when he said BN-Plus was in accord with PBB’s policy of inclusiveness.

 

“Although PBB is the biggest party in the state, it does not mean that the party can arbitrarily decide on crucial decisions for the coalition and ignore the stand and feeling of other component parties,” he said.

 

“I am surprised that Minos with his years of experience in politics, is not aware of that or perhaps he thinks the other BN component parties are nothing and have no value,” Naru said, slamming him for saying that PBB could accept past opponents and rivals including those who bitterly fought against the party.

 

He said that PBB never experienced the kind of crisis that SPDP and SUPP went through which led to the formation of Teras and UPP by former leaders of the two parties.

 

“As a veteran politician, Minos should know the political history of the state better. Can he cite any example of PBB members who criticised their leaders and left the party being accepted back?

 

“If Minos was in the shoes of SPDP and SUPP would he be willing to ask his party to give up their BN seat allocation for the new parties?

 

“Would Minos dare to state that PBB is willing to give up any of the seats for other party in the coming election?”asked Naru.

 

He said: “If PBB cannot do that then the party must respect the stand of SPDP and SUPP on giving up their seats to Teras and UPP.

 

“I appeal to some PBB members to focus on protecting the unity of BN instead of sowing discord among its component parties by trying to bring back throes who had left the coalition.

 

“Those who are genuinely sincere in strengthening the state BN should consolidate its strength and unity by working with existing component parties instead of promoting those who are now outside BN,” Naru added in obvious reference to 10 elected representatives who have left BN and formed their own parties.

 

The 10 include Social Development Minister William Mawan ( left ) who is the Teras President and Local Government and Community Development Minister Wong Soon Koh, UPP leader.

 

For the time being, Mawan, Wong and four other assistant ministers are still in the cabinet of Adenan Satem even though their parties are outside BN.