Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's lack of urgency to rebut speculations that his son Mahmud Abu Bekir could be moving into politics is no help to warring Sadong Jaya factions within PBB.
KUCHING: Trouble is brewing in Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) with two factions at loggerheads over the candidacy of Mahmud Abu Bekir, the eldest son of Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.
Although Taib has refused to confirm or deny speculations as to whether he will field Mahmud in the coming state election, rival groups in the Sadong Jaya PBB division are feuding over the choice of candidate.
On Monday, a group in Sadong Jaya had urged Taib to field Mahmud in Sadong Jaya but another faction loyal to incumbent Wan Wahab Wan Sanusi had cried “sabotage”.
Taib yesterday said he would only announce the names of candidates, including the person for Sadong Jaya, on nomination day and fended off reporters’ questions.
He, however, said that Mahmud had expressed reservation about entering active politics, adding that “one brother in politics is enough”.
Taib also said this was not the first time BN supporters had lobbied for Mahmud’s nomination, adding that similar requests had also been made before, including from people in Samarahan and Mukah.
Taib’s response has a familiar ring to it. In 2008, his younger son Sulaiman, who was also initially reticent, went on to contest in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat previously held by Taib.
He won the seat and had a brief stint as deputy tourism minister in the federal Cabinet before he dissappeared from the political radar.
In the initial days, Taib too kept Sulaiman’s candidacy close to his heart.
Mahmud, who is deputy chairman of Sarawak’s largest conglomerate, Cahya Mata Sarawak Group, is also facing a financial battle on his homefront. His wife of 18 years, Shanaz Majid, is seeking a RM400 million divorce settlement.
Shanaz, 48, who is jazz queen Sheila Majid’s sister, claimed that Mahumud had mentally and physically tortured her and that they had lived apart since 2001.
She also claimed in her divorce application that Mahmud was married to a Russian with three children.
Legal action
Meanwhile, in the agriculturally rich Sadong Jaya constituency, warring factions are bent on having “their” respective choice of candidates.
Said an observer familiar with the discord: “It shows just how much the people love Taib and hate him as well. But all this could land them in court.”
Wahab, a five-term incumbent, had declared at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in November last year that he would not be defending his seat.
But PBB Sadong Jaya division members are refusing to let him go.
“We still want him (Wahab) to defend the seat,” said its vice-chairman Abdul Mutalib Julaihi.
He accused the 113 residents from 13 villages, who had gathered outside the PBB headquarters on Monday calling for Mahmud to represent them, as being “non-PBB members”.
“Those who submitted the resolution wanting the son of the chief minister to contest are not PBB members from Sadong Jaya,” he said.
Withdraw resolution
Mutalib was commenting on press reports of the placard-carrying villagers who had gathered outside PBB headquarters here on Monday to demand that Mahmud be their candidate in the coming election.
Group spokesman Ain Mahil, who had on behalf of the villagers, submitted a resolution to Taib via PBB executive secretary Awang Bujang Awang Antek calling for Mahmud to be fielded, said they wanted a “true leader” who they believed could bring much-needed change to Sadong Jaya.
But angry Sadong Jaya PBB members have strongly disputed the need for a “true leader”, alleging that the villagers were “paid” to stir trouble.
“They were paid by another party with the intention to stir up disharmony in PBB and Barisan Nasional.
“They are merely seeking attention with malicious intention to take over from the present PBB committee,” Mutalib said.
He added that the group should withdraw the resolution immediately.
“PBB Sadong Jaya committee is seeking legal action against the irresponsible group and we are awaiting instructions from our lawyers for further action.”
Sadong Jaya is part of Batang Sadong parliamentary constituency.
Taib already has several family members in politics. Besides Sulaiman, there is his uncle Mohammad Ali Mahmud who is assemblyman for Muara Tuang.
“If Mahmud is to be fielded, there will be three siblings of Taib in Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly.
“Another niece, Norah Abdul Rahman, is the MP for Tanjung Manis,” said the observer.
KUCHING: Trouble is brewing in Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) with two factions at loggerheads over the candidacy of Mahmud Abu Bekir, the eldest son of Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.Although Taib has refused to confirm or deny speculations as to whether he will field Mahmud in the coming state election, rival groups in the Sadong Jaya PBB division are feuding over the choice of candidate.
On Monday, a group in Sadong Jaya had urged Taib to field Mahmud in Sadong Jaya but another faction loyal to incumbent Wan Wahab Wan Sanusi had cried “sabotage”.
Taib yesterday said he would only announce the names of candidates, including the person for Sadong Jaya, on nomination day and fended off reporters’ questions.
He, however, said that Mahmud had expressed reservation about entering active politics, adding that “one brother in politics is enough”.
Taib also said this was not the first time BN supporters had lobbied for Mahmud’s nomination, adding that similar requests had also been made before, including from people in Samarahan and Mukah.
Taib’s response has a familiar ring to it. In 2008, his younger son Sulaiman, who was also initially reticent, went on to contest in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat previously held by Taib.
He won the seat and had a brief stint as deputy tourism minister in the federal Cabinet before he dissappeared from the political radar.
In the initial days, Taib too kept Sulaiman’s candidacy close to his heart.
Mahmud, who is deputy chairman of Sarawak’s largest conglomerate, Cahya Mata Sarawak Group, is also facing a financial battle on his homefront. His wife of 18 years, Shanaz Majid, is seeking a RM400 million divorce settlement.
Shanaz, 48, who is jazz queen Sheila Majid’s sister, claimed that Mahumud had mentally and physically tortured her and that they had lived apart since 2001.
She also claimed in her divorce application that Mahmud was married to a Russian with three children.
Legal action
Meanwhile, in the agriculturally rich Sadong Jaya constituency, warring factions are bent on having “their” respective choice of candidates.
Said an observer familiar with the discord: “It shows just how much the people love Taib and hate him as well. But all this could land them in court.”
Wahab, a five-term incumbent, had declared at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in November last year that he would not be defending his seat.
But PBB Sadong Jaya division members are refusing to let him go.
“We still want him (Wahab) to defend the seat,” said its vice-chairman Abdul Mutalib Julaihi.
He accused the 113 residents from 13 villages, who had gathered outside the PBB headquarters on Monday calling for Mahmud to represent them, as being “non-PBB members”.
“Those who submitted the resolution wanting the son of the chief minister to contest are not PBB members from Sadong Jaya,” he said.
Withdraw resolution
Mutalib was commenting on press reports of the placard-carrying villagers who had gathered outside PBB headquarters here on Monday to demand that Mahmud be their candidate in the coming election.
Group spokesman Ain Mahil, who had on behalf of the villagers, submitted a resolution to Taib via PBB executive secretary Awang Bujang Awang Antek calling for Mahmud to be fielded, said they wanted a “true leader” who they believed could bring much-needed change to Sadong Jaya.
But angry Sadong Jaya PBB members have strongly disputed the need for a “true leader”, alleging that the villagers were “paid” to stir trouble.
“They were paid by another party with the intention to stir up disharmony in PBB and Barisan Nasional.
“They are merely seeking attention with malicious intention to take over from the present PBB committee,” Mutalib said.
He added that the group should withdraw the resolution immediately.
“PBB Sadong Jaya committee is seeking legal action against the irresponsible group and we are awaiting instructions from our lawyers for further action.”
Sadong Jaya is part of Batang Sadong parliamentary constituency.
Taib already has several family members in politics. Besides Sulaiman, there is his uncle Mohammad Ali Mahmud who is assemblyman for Muara Tuang.
“If Mahmud is to be fielded, there will be three siblings of Taib in Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly.
“Another niece, Norah Abdul Rahman, is the MP for Tanjung Manis,” said the observer.
No comments:
Post a Comment