SARAWAK Barisan Nasional will review its position in the coalition, said Chief Minister and state BN chairman Abang Johari Openg.

However, he said, the decision will only be firmed up after his party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), has consulted all state BN components on the matter.

The other three parties in the state BN are Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Development Party.

“We’re in no haste,” he told reporters after chairing the PBB supreme council meeting this afternoon.

The idea to form a Sarawak-based coalition has been floated since BN’s mauling in the 14th general election.

It was reported that the SUPP central working committee, in its meeting on Monday, agreed to pull out of BN and join the proposed coalition.

The decision, however, must be endorsed by the party’s central committee.

The four-hour meeting at the PBB headquarters in Demak Jaya today was dominated by the one topic, said a supreme council member who declined to be identified.

“And, there was one consensus. No one argued (about) staying.

“Get out of BN. It’s a broken brand that could take the state BN down in the next state elections.

“If you look at the tone of the chief minister’s statement, it’s a forgone conclusion.”

In his statement, Abang Johari said PBB is “committed to moving forward on a strong, united front, in the full interest of our beloved people in Sarawak”.

He said PBB, being “strategically and uniquely independent”, will continue to champion the cause of protecting Sarawak’s interests “as a united coalition of Sarawak-based parties, which holds the hopes and dreams of our people to see a greater Sarawak”.

“It is that greater purpose for Sarawak that shall continue to fuel our passion and drive to bring benefits to all Sarawakians.

“We will steadfastly consolidate all our strength and resources as a responsible state government, to ensure that the concerns of the people of Sarawak and their voices are deservedly represented.

“Our 19 MPs, of which 13 are from PBB, will be our effective voice in fighting for Sarawak’s interests in Parliament, and they, too, are committed to ensuring that the needs of the people of Sarawak will be supported by the present ruling government, in the interest of Malaysia as a whole.”

He reiterated that the state government will have a working relationship with the new Pakatan Harapan federal government.

“We welcome fresh, fair and balanced intellectual discourses in Parliament, in the interest of a new Malaysia.” – May 16, 2018.