Stop bickering and unite

by Agnes Tugong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 8, 2012, Tuesday

LOCAL GIFT: Taib, flanked by Leo and Fatimah, admiring a souvenir in the form of a wooden paddle given to him by a community leader at the Majlis Berambeh Jugem in Oya, Dalat yesterday.— Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

MUKAH: Taib calls on feuding parties and factions to make peace, commends PBB for stability.

Leaders of Barisan Nasional (BN) parties in the state and feuding factions within them have been told to bury their hatchets for the sake of unity and strength of the coalition before the next general election.

State BN chairman Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud made the call at a Majlis Berambeh Jugem (Leaders meet-the-people session) at the Dalat District Council compound in Oya which was attended by about 5,000 people yesterday.

The Chief Minister in stressing that unity was a vital factor in ensuring BN’s victory in the election appealed to BN leaders not to be narrow-minded and urged them to look at the bigger picture instead of quarreling among themselves.

He commended Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) for maintaining stability among its members which allowed the party to focus on the development of the state,

“There is no power struggle and petty squabbles in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB),” said Taib who is PBB president.

“This stability is the result of good planning of PBB leaders when managing all sorts of aspects involving party and members,” he pointed out. “People can see new and old faces every time PBB went out for election. This was aimed at consolidating the party and continuing our struggle,” he said.

Although he did not say it, Taib was obviously referring to the challenges faced by other state BN components namely Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

While SUPP appeared to be divided into two factions, the relationship between PRS and SPDP has been strained for some time.

At the event Taib approved a grant of RM100,000 to part finance the upgrading works of Pekan Sabtu (Saturday market) and assist the traders, who are mostly women.

Later Taib handed over incentives to 122 students who excelled in their public examinations, assistance to senior citizens and government grants to various sports, social and welfare bodies and associations.