PBB's Capability Rules Out Umno Spreading Wings To Sarawak - Muhyiddin

KUCHING, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- The structure of administration established by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) in Sarawak rules out the need for Umno to set foot in the state, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said here Thursday.

He said the PBB in Sarawak, similar to Umno in peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, had become a parent body for the other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties which gave their support to bring about political stability.

"The role played by the PBB is similar to that of Umno in the peninsula and Sabah, which can continue," the Umno deputy president told a news conference after attending a closed-door dialogue with representatives from the Sarawak associations of consumers, hawkers and suppliers, here.

Muhyiddin said the Sarawak BN, helmed by the PBB and with the other component parties, had achieved the objective shared by Umno.

"I feel it is unnecessary to duplicate what has been achieved. What is important is not the party but the objective. It (PBB) has achieved what we (Umno) want to achieve ... unity, progress, prosperity and stability. This is what's happening in Sarawak," he said.

On Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who has announced that he would retire as the Sarawak chief minister on Feb 28, Muhyiddin said the veteran leader had made a huge contribution to the state and nation, especially in fostering unity among the people of various races and religions.

He said that during the 33-year tenure of Abdul Taib as the chief minister, Sarawak did not face any racial issue in spite of the state having a large number of ethnic groups which subscribed to various cultures and religions.

He also said that Abdul Taib had successfully brought much development to Sarawak as the leader of the state government administration.

"Thirty-three years of service is a long period, and he has fulfilled this with excellence. In fact, that period will become a treasured legacy, particularly for Sarawak," he said.

Muhyiddin said he hoped that the next chief minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, would be able to continue with the excellent example that Abdul Taib had set.

On the closed-door meeting he had last night with the leaders of the Sarawak BN component parties here, Muhyiddin said it also touched on the preparations for the next state elections, due in June 2016.

"What is important are the steps that we have to take to ensure that Sarawak remains the stronghold, and not just the fixed deposit, of the BN," he said.

Muhyiddin said he was confident that based on Abdul Taib's leadership and the new leadership under Adenan, the people's support for the BN in the state would grow stronger.

"It is vital for Sarawak to remain a BN stronghold," he said.