Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the backbone of the Sarawak BN coalition will not field its state assemblymen in any of the 31 parliamentary constituencies in the coming 14th general election.

Party president Abang Johari Openg said this was the stand taken by the party in facing the coming polls to enable elected representatives to better serve their constituents.

The Sarawak chief minister and Sarawak BN chairperson also hoped the other three state BN component parties – Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) – would make a similar stand for “better enrichment.”

“All prospective candidates in the GE14 from Sarawak will also be screened by the various relevant agencies before their names are submitted to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak when the time comes,” he told a press conference after opening the Satok PBB branch delegates meeting in Kuching today.

These agencies included MACC, police, Insolvency Department, Immigration Department and Inland Revenue Board.

Abang Johari said the matter cannot be taken for granted, because it had occurred both within and outside the state, that saw by-elections being held when the victory of the candidate was declared null and void due to various reasons.

“We don’t want any controversy, the issue of eligibility can be decided by the court but what is important is that we don’t want the possibility of a by-election later, it is a waste of time and energy,” he added.

In the 11th Sarawak state election last year, PBB had won all 40 out of the 82 state seats contested. 

- Bernama