BATANG Sadong PKR has objected to Sarawak chief Baru Bian’s pick for constituency parliamentary coordinator.

In a statement, division leaders said the appointment of “outsider” Jamilah Baharuddin was a case of “abuse of power, cronyism and nepotism”.

Jamilah’s appointment, which they said Baru made without consulting local leaders, has also insulted division members.

Jamilah is the daughter of PKR Sarawak deputy chairman Baharuddin Mokshen.

Jamilah’s aunt and Baharuddin’s sister Hanim Mokshen was also appointed a coordinator.

Division leaders also said Jamilah is not even from Batang Sadong, not least a division member.

Jamilah, with family roots in Kg Tupong in Kuching, is a member of the Petra Jaya division.

Baharuddin, in response to the criticism, told The Malaysian Insight that the appointment was “the sole prerogative of (Sarawak PKR chairman) Baru Bian as mandated by the prime minister and cabinet to appoint”.

Batang Sadong division leaders said they wanted division chief Piee Ling to take the post in question and that Jamilah’s name was never referred to them for approval.

They said Jamilah’s appointment was to raise her profile as the party planned to give her another go at the Malay-majority Simunjan seat.

In the 2016 state elections, Jamilah contested Simunjan unsuccessfully, one of the three seats that make up the Batang Sadong parliamentary constituency.

Baru yesterday appointed 19 parliamentary coordinators in seats that Pakatan Harapan failed to win in the 2018 election.

Their role is to ensure that programmes and projects under the federal government’s five-year development plan are carried out.

Each coordinator will receive the prime minister’s special allocation of RM500,000 annually, to be used within the current year in accordance with the prime minister’s directive.

Baru is also facing objections from PH ally, Amanah Sarawak, which has rejected the appointments.

Amanah Youth chief Abu Tariq said Baru, who is also Works Minister, had disregarded the principle of consensus by not discussing the appointments with Sarawak PH members.

He said since Amanah Sarawak had been tasked with contesting Santubong, Batang Sadong, Tg Manis, Batang Lupar and Samarahan, so this party should have its representatives appointed as coordinators. – February 22, 2020.