“Sarawak would have ‘problems’ if they quit Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Federal Government in Putrajaya.”
“The people of Sarawak can smell bad characters a mile away,” added PBB Supreme Council member Idris Buang.
“Although people look down on us, we are not that ‘naïve’.”
“We are familiar with psywar strategies. We have famed jungle trackers and field force personnel from before who fought the communist terrorists in the state and in the peninsula.”
He conceded that Guan Eng and DAP Sarawak Chief Chong Chieng Jen appear to be formidable adversaries in Sarawak perhaps equally well-versed in psywar. “DAP wants to trap the people of Sarawak to adopt a confrontational stance against the Federal Government.”
“Only people who have the psywar mindset will come up with the three challenges the party has issued to Adenan.”
Idris was responding to Guan Eng daring Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem on Sarawak parties using their own logos instead of BN’s dacing, the Sarawak Government’s purported recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and the 20 per cent oil royalty demand being a non-starter.
“The 20 per cent oil royalty demand is not an empty slogan as alleged by Guan Eng,” assured Idris. “We are pursuing this demand but to achieve it before the next state election is a tall order.”
“We have agreed that it’s not the time now to pursue the oil royalty demand. The market conditions are not in our favour.”
Likewise, he said, the Sarawak Government’s recognition of UEC must be seen as a beginning and not the end, despite misgivings by the Federal Government. “The state government has agreed to recognize the UEC certificates of those who pass Bahasa at the SPM level for the purpose of entering the civil service.”
“We have done what we can at the state level. UEC holders will also be eligible for state scholarships for further studies.”
He went on to describe the call to drop the BN logo in Sarawak as a trap, one first laid by Chong in May last year, and repeated by the Penang Chief Minister in recent days.
“Whatever happens in Umno in the peninsula has no connection whatsoever with BN component parties in Sarawak,” claimed Idris. “So, there’s no need to drop the BN logo in Sarawak just because component parties in the peninsula, like Umno for example, are having problems.”
In summing up, the PBB Supreme Council member alleged that Guan Eng lacks humanitarian qualities and in fact has no sympathy for the people of Sarawak, especially those in the rural areas.
“He can’t claim that he knows Sarawak like Adenan who has been throughout the state for over 40 years and know what’s in the hearts of the people.”
“Unlike DAP, we have the interests of the people at heart.”