Opposition defectors have agenda, says PBS

KENINGAU - Barisan Nasional (BN) must be wary of accepting into its fold leaders who had made every move to topple the ruling coalition in the last election but are now making a political U-turn for whatever reason.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice President Datuk Daniel Kinsik urged the BN top leadership to do away with accepting defectors "who are obviously only interested in their own agenda".

"One of them is Matunggong Assemblyman Datuk Jelani Hamdan. He should have thought before he stood for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in his constituency that only BN can bring development to Matunggong.

"I presume he realised this right from the beginning but made promises that he could bring development even outside BN. This was a blatant lie to the people who had placed their trust on him.

"Now that the election is over he made his move to be back with BN. Had they been successful in their bid to get rid of the BN government in the last election he would be singing a different tune and would have belittled the success of BN," he said. Daniel, who is also Political Secretary to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, said any action to accept such leaders into BN would open the floodgates of BN leaders to go against the ruling government in the next general election. "We are very confident that leaders such as these will fight to overthrow the Government and later comes back, even to the extent of begging, just to be in the Government.

"Their excuses will always be 'Oh I made a mistake, so please take me back'. If this kind of thing is allowed to happen then one would think about the sincerity and integrity in BN. "I hope BN would do away with leaders who place their personal interest above principles and integrity. Otherwise our people will not forgive us for being made a stepping stone for one's personal glory," he said.

On Tuesday, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) another BN component, said it was abandoning plans to accept Jelani into its fold due to the latter's excessive demand of the Deputy President's post, among others.

There is no news on whether the other PKR Assemblyman (Kadamaian) who quit to become a pro-BN independent, Jeremy Malajad, was also interested in joining PBRS as speculated.

Luyang Assemblyman Hiew King Chew of DAP was the third opposition Assemblyman to declare himself as a pro-BN member.

DE