TAKING in any of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional parties into Pakatan Harapan would be a betrayal of the people, said Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian.

The newly elected Selangau MP adds his voice to the chorus of opposition to the possibility of Sarawak BN parties joining PH, which had toppled BN at the federal level.

Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen earlier yesterday also stated his opposition to the move after reports emerged that Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) could join PH. Baru described PBB as “the proxy of Umno in Sarawak”.

PBB is the lead party in Sarawak BN, which comprises Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawa United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

Baru said after the three leaders of Sarawak PH – Chong, Fidzuan Zaidi of Amanah and him – met to discuss the matter yesterday afternoon, he wrote a letter to PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PH secretary general Saifuddin Abdullah “to put on record our strong position against the acceptance of any BN parties into Pakatan Harapan”.

He said PH national leaders “understand our position with regard to PBB”. 

He said PBB leaders have been allowed to abuse their power to gain excessive wealth, “depriving our people of what is rightfully theirs”.

“They have condemned and ridiculed us for our strong stand on issues such as NCR (native customary rights) and human rights abuses, etc by the state government authorities and powerful government figures. 

“Not only that, they have mocked and insulted us, singling out the chairman of Pakatan Harapan (Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad) and sneered at our manifesto. 

“For them to now express a desire to join us smacks of hypocrisy, and we are entitled to question their motives.”

Chong had yesterday said it would be akin to accepting Umno into PH.

Baru said if PBB or any other Sarawak BN parties do make the approach, the state PH leaders expect to be consulted.

“Any decision made must be by consensus within the coalition at both national and state levels.” – May 12, 2018.