KUCHING, Feb 22- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is confident that the rakyat will accept any candidate fielded by the Barisan Nasional in the 13th general election (GE13) because the people believe in the
government’s transformation policies.
“I notice that the people’s response have been very encouraging because they are convinved that the transformation policies advocated by the BN will benefit the people and guarantee a better future,” he said at a media conference after a meeting with the state BN leaders and the Sarawak BN supreme council, here today.
Najib, who concluded his three-day working visit to Sarawak, said the BN had to take into consideration the acceptability of the candidates by the people based on this factor.
“I have more or less decided on the list of candidates. Wait and see when the time comes,” he said, but added that he would not jump the gun on the question of direct BN candidates being fielded in any of the 31 parliamentary
seats in Sarawak.
With the support of the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also the Sarawak BN chairman, Najib believed the BN could bring more changes to Sarawak and ensure that the people would enjoy greater benefits. On preparations by the state BN to face the GE13, Najib said as a whole, the Sarawak BN had made good preparation for its election machinery. He said the BN leaders were in high spirit to do their best and ensure a major victory for the BN this time around.
“We must also take into consideration public acceptance of the candidates so that the people are satisfied with the candidates fielded by the BN,” he said.
Out of the 31 Parliamentary seats, Parti Pesaka Bersatu Bumiputera (PBB) proposed to contest in 14 constituencies, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) in five constituencies, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) in six constituencies while the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party proposed to contest in four seats.
Meanwhile, Sarawak BN secretary Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said the Prime Minister offered his advice on preparations for the GE13 at the closed-door meeting which did not discuss the final list of the Sarawak BN candidates. In his message, Najib had called on the leaders of the BN component parties who were present to be prepared, and most importantly, they should be united in facing the election, Dr Rundi told reporters.
Dr Rundi said all the Sarawak BN component parties were also asked to gather accurate information, and fulfill all pledges made in the past because they were important to the rakyat. SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom said his party was willing to compromise on seat allocation in the spirit of BN.
“The prime minister has said BN Sarawak is showing the spirit of cooperation and that all parties are trying to set aside whatever differences or whateve internal squabbles,” he said.
PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said the issue of former Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) rejoining the BN coalition did not arise anymore as it was already deregistered.
BERNAMA
