Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is rumoured to have dropped at least nine PBB incumbent MPs who are very loyal to Taib, replacing them with pro-federal candidates.
Joseph Tawie, FMT
KUCHING: It’s no longer whispers and rumours spinning out of Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) corridors in Sarawak. In fact it is now common knowledge that Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, who also helms BN’s leader party PBB, is betting on more than one horse in the general election.
Taib is towing the talk in Barisan Nasional whilst shaking hands with Pakatan Rakyat.
At least that’s what Anwar Ibrahim insinuated to FMT here today when he said that he has made “some contacts with some state BN leaders”.
It also further confirms rumours that Taib had sent a strong message to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak not to interfere with PBB’s recommendations and sent a ‘senior’ PBB man to meet with Anwar.
Said Anwar, who is de facto leader of Pakatan Rakyat: “Yes I do have some contacts with them many times. I met them at the airport, in Parliament and outside Parliament. We are very civil in politics.”
Anwar, who was here on a three-day visit to assess the the political situation in Sarawak, was commenting on rumours that he had met some of state BN leaders over the possibility that they might join Pakatan Rakyat before or after the general election.
Anwar, they said, had discussed the ‘latest development’ with PAS and DAP leaders and it appears everyone is in agreement.
Rumours were rife that Taib and some component party members are unhappy with Najib’s insistence on choosing the candidates in the coming election.
Najib is rumoured to have dropped at least nine PBB incumbent MPs who are very loyal to Taib replacing them with pro-federal candidates.
Others unhappy with similar moves by Najib are Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party president William Mawan and the Parti Rakyat Sarawak chief James Masing.
