KUCHING, Oct 5 – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Tan Sri Alfred Jabu was evasive when asked today whether he would follow the party president and Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s decision should the latter step down from his position.
Instead of giving a straight answer, Jabu said PBB had clearly indicated that they wanted Taib, who is Malaysia’s longest-serving chief minister, to continue leading the party.
“There are a lot of attempts to get our chief minister (Taib to step down), including through the opposition. But the views of Barisan Nasional and PBB, (are that) we want him (Taib) to stay because he is the pillar for peace, stability and racial harmony.”
Jabu said this at a press conference on preparations for the PBB Triennial General Convention, which will be held here between Oct 18 and 22.
The party which has been the backbone of Barisan Nasional (BN) in Sarawak since 1973 is expected to hold the elections for its supreme council as well as its Youth and Women’s wings during the convention.
However, no contests are expected for the top posts in the party as the focus of the elections will be on the supreme council.
Joining PBB in December 1973, Jabu, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, had stood steadfastly with Taib in 1987 when the party was in a crisis after several leaders attempted to topple Taib as the chief minister.
Dubbed as the “Ming Court Affair,” the attempt led by former chief minister Tun Abdul Rahman Yaakub, however, was thwarted after Taib called for a snap election that year and managed to secure a convincing victory to form the state government.
Jabu said all PBB members, particularly the younger generation, should learn from the bitter lesson of the Ming Court Affair which had disrupted unity among them.
“We would like to minimise any friction. Therefore, it is important to give advice. If harmony is disrupted, we can ruin all the things that we have achieved in a split second.
“People who create problems are never involved in solving the problems,” he added.
– BERNAMA
