Baru cries foul over power trip prior to his talk in Selangau
KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan ( PH) candidate for Selangau, Baru Bian suspects his campaign function at Selangau was sabotaged because the street lights and lights at nearby coffee shops were switched off when he was about to speak in front of the hall in Sekuau on Sunday night.
“I was reliably informed that the power supply had been turned off by the staff of the Dewan Sekuau. We managed to get power supply for our loud speakers from one of the eateries that had power and our ceramah started at 7.15pm. A few people spoke before I was called to speak. Lo and behold, as soon as I went up to speak, the power supply was disconnected and we were left in darkness.
Baru said in a press statement yesterday this cowardly act of sabotage is a ref lection of the fear of Barisan Nasional ( BN) of legitimate challenges to their positions, and their arrogance stemming from years of playing ‘ towkay’.
It is indeed a tragedy for us Sarawakians that these people who want to be elected as our leaders should act so dishonourably, not caring that their dirty tactics are witnessed by the voters, whose opinions they should value.
“We called the Sesco hotline, to be told that they would investigate and call back. After 30 minutes, we called Sesco again, and the call was taken by a kind and professional staff member, who called back to inform us that the blackout was caused by a ‘ wire- touching problem’. When confronted that judging by the perfect timing of the ‘ wiretouching problem’, the obvious conclusion was that we had been sabotaged, he replied ‘ I cannot comment’. “
“It is indeed a tragedy for us Sarawakians that these people who want to be elected as our leaders should act so dishonourably, not caring that their dirty tactics are witnessed by the voters, whose opinions they should value.”
Baru said this incident must be condemned by BN leaders if they want to give the impression of free and fair elections but he expected that they would merely deny any knowledge of the blackout.
On the recent announcement of a RM57 million allocation for the upgrading of Selangau Bazaar Baru said it is welcome news for the people of Selangau.
However, he pointed out that the timing of the announcement on the eve of polling did raise questions about the sincerity and motives of the state government.
“Nevertheless, I am glad that Selangau is finally getting some attention and I would advise the people of Selangau to voice their grouses loud and clear so that the windfall may continue in the next two days before polling day.
“Clearly, the Barisan Nasional ( BN) parties have to keep on making their sweet promises because there is not much achievement to show in Selangau after holding the seat for decades; therefore they are unable to campaign on their track record,” he said.
Baru Bian, Selangau PH candidate