Tuesday February 12, 2013

Taib: State Barisan to help SUPP win back Miri seat

MIRI: All Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties here will support SUPP’s struggle to win back Miri parliamentary seat from the Op-position the coming elections.

This was what Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said during his Chinese New Year visit to SUPP president Datuk Seri Peter Chin’s open house yesterday morning.

Miri parliamentary seat is said to be one of the hot seats this coming polls. In the 2011 state elections, two Barisan-held constituencies within the parliamentary seat — Piasau and Pujut — fell to the DAP, while SUPP snatched a narrow victory in Senadin.

Taib’s entourage to Chin’s house included PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing, SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Second Planning and Resource Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, and “floating” BN Club representative, who is also Bekenu assemblyman, Rosey Yunus.

Taib’s “not-exactly-chummy” relationship with Chin during the past year or so, which set public and media tongues wagging, was dispelled yesterday when he stayed for more than 40 minutes seemingly enjoying his host at the open house.

Taib “no show” at Chin’s house during last year’s Chinese New Year did little to snuff or at least dissipate speculations that not all was right between the two leaders.

When Taib left yesterday, Chin was immediately surrounded by reporters who wanted to know his take on Taib’s visit.

“I am very happy that he and his entourage came to my house. It shows unity within the Barisan and that we can work together,” he said, clearly elated.

He said, in fact, his whole conversation with Taib that morning was to ask for cooperation, consolidation, and to work together.

“I am sincere. I want to work with all the Barisan component parties so that we can win our seats,” he said.

He explained that it not just for SUPP, but also for the good of Barisan as a whole.

For that reason, he was happy that Taib came to his open house, and he gathered from their conversation that they were thinking of the same thing, that is, the unity of Barisan going into the parliamentary elections.

As to whether the visit yesterday had more or less created peace between them, he said that in the first place there was no bad feelings between them but rather “a little misunderstanding which has been cleared during the visit”.

He then clarified that there was no such thing as “not on talking terms with the CM” in the past. What happened, according to him, was just a little misunderstanding over political issues and nothing personal.

Taib, he said, had assured him that PBB —- the largest political party in Sarawak and backbone of the state Barisan — was supportive of SUPP.

On Taib’s last words before he left for Senadin assemblyman Datuk Lee Kim Shin’s house, Chin said he (Taib) pointed out that Chinese voters were a bit difficult, “so we must work hard and strategise to win their support,” he said.

News

Tuesday February 12, 2013

Taib: State Barisan to help SUPP win back Miri seat