PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confirmed that he met Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud recently, as reported by several newspapers.

“We meet a lot of people to gain an insight into their views, to find out what is beneficial for us and what is not beneficial, and we will act accordingly,” he said today after naming Pakatan Harapan ministers for three cabinet portfolios.

The meeting with Taib, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, was attended by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, who is in the new government’s council of elders tasked with spearheading reforms.

The discussions reportedly centred around plans to form a state-based coalition aligned with PH.

Dr Mahathir did not address questions raised several times by journalists regarding opposition from Sarawak PH leaders, such as Baru Bian and Chong Chieng Jen, to any plans of en masse defections involving BN elected representatives.

Baru and Chong, as well as the heads of other Sarawak-based groups, have condemned any such plan as being tantamount to the practices of a “corrupt regime” and a betrayal of voters.

However, Dr Mahathir said PH is open to “individual defections” by BN MPs, adding that they would have to be vetted.

“Each case will be studied, as to their involvement in the previous government. There are lots of possibilities, but I can’t determine the possibilities at this moment.”

He said PH’s cabinet must have ministers from Sabah and Sarawak.

“We have a place for Sabah and Sarawak. And again, for Sabah and Sarawak, we need to find out their stand.”

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak’s dominant BN component, controls 13 parliamentary seats, followed by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (3), the Progressive Democratic Party (2) and the Sarawak United People’s Party (1), bringing the total of state BN parliamentarians to 19.

Sarawak PH controls 10 seats, with independent candidate Larry Sng indicating interest in joining the pact.

State opposition parties have long challenged BN’s rule, saying Sarawak’s development had stagnated due to corruption.

They also consider Taib, who was chief minister for 33 years, one of Malaysia’s most corrupt politicians. – May 12, 2018.