GE13: Stick with Barisan, says Taib

KUCHING: Pakatan Rakyat cannot cope with the problems of a fast growing Malaysia and Sarawak, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He said this was because the opposition coalition could not shift its politics into serious mode, hence the need to resort to all sorts of propaganda to win over the people.

“I can say this in all humility that they (Pakatan) cannot cope with the problems faced by a fast growing Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said when officiating at the site confirmation event for the third link across Sungai Sarawak connecting Petra Jaya and Stampin here yesterday.

He said this was why Barisan Nasional had often stressed that it was better for the people to remain with the ruling coalition because it was more experienced in handling such transformation.

He said all this while, Barisan had a systematic approach in handling the rising population in the country as well as the demands of the people as the time changed.

Taib, who is the state Barisan chairman, said the coalition had brought changes but in a more gradual and coordinated manner to ensure that there would be stability.

Unlike Pakatan which tended to mouth off so quickly, he said Barisan had been silently working on bringing changes to the people in a more constructive manner.

“Change needs planning or things will go haywire (if it is done abruptly). During each term, we coordinate things and then bring out the money to implement what’s been planned. This is not propaganda for it is not only talk.”

Taib said he was well aware of the track record of a certain Pakatan leader who was once with Barisan.

Indicating PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Taib said while the former was a good orator, it did not reflect in his work and so he advised the people to be very careful when voting.

He said Barisan candidates like Datuk Yong Khoon Seng and Datuk Fadillah Yusof, who are for Stampin and Petra Jaya respectively, were picked because of their track records and their close relationship with the grassroots.

He said he heard it from the people themselves that both candidates had been hard at work even when it was not election time.

“Look carefully at these candidates and remind yourselves of the hard work they have done to develop Stampin and Petra Jaya to what they are now.

“Bear in mind that uncontested, unproven candidate is an unknown risk. For those who have served before, we know their weaknesses but then again, we also know what they have done to serve the people. And if they say they are going to do something, it is most likely to materialise,” he said.

Taib said if voters were to go for Pakatan, they would put themselves in risk through a test period of uncertainty.-thestar online