Minos: BN still counting on Sabah, S’wak to deliver seats

 

by Churchill Edward. Posted on January 9, 2012, Monday

KUCHING: The Barisan Nasional (BN) at the federal level is still counting on Sarawak and Sabah BN to deliver the seats in the next general election so that the BN fold could still stay in power.

This is because the BN in Peninsular Malaysia is still unsure of its strength there, said political analyst Datuk Peter Minos who now spends most of his time in Kuala Lumpur. “The BN at the federal level really hopes that BN Sarawak and Sabah will do well in the coming general election, expected to be held in March. They still believe that BN Sarawak and Sabah are their fixed deposits, no doubt indicating that the BN in West Malaysia is still not too sure about things here (West Malaysia),” he said when contacted recently.

Minos, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy information chief, said memories of the “political tsunami” of the March 2008 general election still linger in the minds of BN members. “That experience has sapped BN’s confidence and such feelings still give them the jitters,” he said.

But looking at the bright side, he said Umno is now moving and therefore is becoming more solid under the helm of Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.“Datuk Seri Najib’s hard work and determination in improving things in Umno augurs well for the future of BN in Peninsular Malaysia,” said Minos. He said even MCA’s unity has improved under its president Datuk Chua Soi Lek.

Howover, Minos’ take on other BN components like Gerakan MIC and PPP is not positive because their top leaders lacked the inspiration to move their parties and grassroots members further. “So BN here (Peninsular Malaysia) will rely a lot on Umno to provide the necessary strength and inspiration. As the other parties (MIC, PPP and Gerakan) are not moving, Umno is looking up to BN Sarawak and Sabah for seats. Federal BN is very keen on Sarawak, PBB in particular. They see PBB as solid and reliable. “They often say that PBB president Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud can be relied on to hold things together in PBB and also BN Sarawak. They say Taib knows exactly what to do. There is indeed admiration for the man who is also a grand statesman,” said Minos. But there are worries over SUPP, he said. “Federal BN says they believe SUPP will not be able to regroup and unite and prepare for the parliamentary election in time. All of them wonder what will become of the party that is now facing serious internal troubles. “Few talk of PRS but SPDP’s internal strife and problems are now being mentioned. All hope that SPDP will sort things out. But many in the federal BN say that as long as Taib is around and PBB is united, things in Sarawak will be bright,” he said.

He said some of the members in federal BN only know the going-ons in SUPP and SPDP superficially. “Many think that only a miracle can save SUPP. SUPP troubles have been highlighted in the national papers and Internet causing them to worry about SUPP. They are also asking why can’t SUPP leaders sit down and talk things over or to compromise,” Minos said.

SUPP is still waiting for the Registrar of Societies to decide if their branches AGMs and elections as well as their just concluded Triennial Delegates Conference are indeed accepted. Six of its state assemblymen and one MP are distancing themselves from the party. SUPP has allocated seven vacancies in their central working committee (CWC) line-up in the hope that the dissenting elected representatives would patch up with the rest of the CWC members.

SPDP saw four of its elected representatives quitting the party on Jan 6. They technically are still ordinary members unless and until the party supreme council decides otherwise.

The party is expected to hold its supreme council meeting soon.

On Nov 25 last year, SPDP sacked one elected representative for committing gross insubordination. Minos, who believes the general election would be held in March this year said the troubled parties just have to sort things out fast by first reconsolidating BN members on the ground before facing the voters.