Don’t consider us BN fixed deposit if promises unfulfilled, backbenchers warn

KUCHING: The federal government should not assume that the state will remain Barisan Nasional’s (BN) fixed deposit during the next general election if it fails to keep its promises.

State Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club(BNBBC) chairman Abdullah Saidol, who is Semop assemblyman, said all the federal government’s promises and pledges must be fulfilled.

“The federal government should keep its word as promised during the (last) general election by giving positive feedback and confidence to the negotiations with the state government.

“Frankly speaking, Sarawak BNBBC’s stand is that if the promises made during the last election are not fulfilled and if there is no positive response, the federal government should not regard us as its fixed deposit,” he said during the BNBBC dinner on Wednesday.

The chief political secretary to the Chief Minister said the state BNBBC will nevertheless go all out to help state BN parliamentary candidates win their seats.

He said the state BN elected representatives would ensure BN wins at least 28 or 29 out of 31 parliamentary seats compared to the previous target of 25 seats.

“That is our promise,” he said.

Abdullah stressed all 48 BNBBC members are strongly behind Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s efforts to reclaim Sarawak’s rights from the federal government without affecting the relationship between both parties.

He added that BNBBC was disappointed with the allocation for the state under the federal Budget 2017.

“The allocation in the budget did not meet the need for a bigger allocation for the state in order to achieve development at par with other states in the country,” he said.

However, Abdullah added the state budget presented during the just concluded State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting remedied that disappointment as it was geared towards improving conditions in rural areas.

“We appreciate this budget as I can say that this is the best budget among the states in Malaysia despite the uncertain global economy,” he said.

Adenan (second right) and his wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu are seen during a photo call at the dinner with DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar (right) and Abdullah.