"PBS has made its stand clear.
It is enough that they remain 'BN-friendly' as they claim.
There is no pressing need for BN to take these defectors into our ranks.
"We already have a comfortable two-thirds majority in the Assembly," he said in the wake of a report that Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), a BN component party, had accepted the membership application of Luyang Assemblyman Hiew King Chiu.
Hiew, who was reported to have said that he had been accepted as a member of PBRS, subsequently retracted his statement, claiming he had made no such announcement.
Mositun said while PBRS had the right to accept or reject applications for membership from opposition defectors, it was only proper to do so after reaching a consensus within the BN.
"That has been a BN policy all this time.
No one BN party should disregard the views and feelings of its BN partners by acting arbitrarily.
Overall unity and camaraderie within the BN must take precedence over individual party interests," said Mositun.
He said the BN had to be careful when accepting defectors from the opposition into its own ranks.
"First, we must be sure of their sincerity and ability to contribute to the BN agenda effectively. Secondly, we must appreciate the mood and effect on the people of the constituencies they represent.
"Third, what effect will it have on fellow BN parties who also have a stake in these constituencies.
These are among the factors that PBRS, or any other BN component, must consider carefully before accepting opposition defectors into our ranks.
"The BN is not an individual party, it is a coalition of many parties, and the coalition's interest must come first, always. That's why the BN places emphasis on consensus," he said.
On Hiew's claim that he (Hiew) had not made the statement about having been accepted as a PBRS member, Mositun said it was unlikely.
"It doesn't matter. Whatever Hiew says, let the people judge.
The people voted him in because he stood on a DAP ticket.
He can't stand on a DAP ticket in the next election, and he knows he has no chance of retaining the Luyang seat as an independent," Mositun said.
Mositun said Hiew's only hope of survival in politics now was to be fielded as a BN candidate in the next general election.
"Hiew along with the Matunggong and Tampasuk assemblymen Jelani Hamdan and Jeremy Malajad, respectively, face a similar dilemma.
That is why they are knocking on the doors of PBRS to become BN members through the back door," he said.
Mositun said PBRS President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup should put an end to unhealthy speculations by resolving the matter once and for all with the State BN leadership and fellow component parties.
"All this speculation, claims and counter-claims, denials and accusations are not doing the State BN any good.
I hope, as a fellow BN leader, Kurup will act wisely and act quickly in the BN spirit to put this issue to rest once and for all," Mositun said.
Related News ----------------------------------------
Former DAP state leader to join PBRS
KOTA KINABALU, May 13, 2014 - Independent Luyang assemblyman Dr Hiew King Cheu has confirmed submitting his application to join Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), but is awaiting a response from the party leadership as to whether or not he would be accepted as a new member.
He admitted that his application was special as he was an elected state representative and therefore, required the consensus of PBRS and other Barisan Nasional (BN) components parties.
“It doesn’t matter how long they take to discuss my application as I understand their concerns that I am already an elected people’s representative.
“But while they (PBRS) deliberate, I will continue the responsibility that was entrusted to me towards my constituency,” he told Bernama here today.
Hiew, a former DAP state leader, said he submitted his application about two months ago after deciding that he should have a platform under the government in which he could fulfill his cause.
Meanwhile, PBRS secretary-general Dr Johnson Tee confirmed that Hiew had applied to become a PBRS member, but the party leadership had yet to discuss the matter.
-Bernama
--------------------- In the Daily Express Report
Luyang's Hiew hands PBRS first urban seat
KOTA KINABALU - PBRS gained its first urban seat with Independent Luyang Assemblyman Hiew King Cheu having been accepted into the party.
Hiew said he was informed about his status earlier this month and was also made to understand that "a large number of his followers" had been accepted as members in PBRS as well.....
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