Baru: Statement by PBDS Baru an attempt to discredit me
KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru ( PBDS Baru) has landed itself in hot soup following its latest press statement, which Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Sarawak chairman Baru Bian regards as an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
PBDS Baru, in the statement issued by its information chief Bobby William yesterday, called upon the new federal government under Pakatan Harapan ( PH) to screen a particular elected representative and delay his appointment until a native customary rights ( NCR) case is solved – or until this particular elected representative has cleared his name.
The statement, which did not mention any name, seemed to refer to Baru by saying that a lawyer, who is also an MP and an assemblyman, must be screened and cleared of any scandal or corruption before he could be considered for appointment as minister in the new PH-led federal government.
The PBDS Baru statement stated that the lawyer, who is from PKR, must clear his name since a police report had been lodged against him with regard to a NCR land case.
Baru described the statement as ‘ baseless’, adding that he had been reliably informed about the statement being sent to the press and posted on several Facebook pages, as well as on several WhatsApp chat groups including ‘ Ruai Intellectual Dayak’ and ‘Pemansang Dayak’.
Baru said the PBDS Baru press statement was based on a police report lodged on Nov 22, 2016 by one Nickodemus Singgai against him and fellow PKR lawyer, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.
“We are aware that PBDS Baru has played up this police report on various social media platforms, on several occasions. It is unfortunate that they do not bother to display any professionalism by verifying the truth behind the police report before using it in their attempts to tarnish my reputation, for whatever reason that they may have.”
Baru added that the statement issued by PBDS Baru showed that its members did not have the courage or conviction to mention his name, but to resort to the ‘cowardly act of allusion’.
“Since this matter is now on the public domain, I will be sending letters of demand to Bobby, PBDS Baru president Cobbold John, its Youth chief Rapelson Richard Hamit and any other individuals who are disseminating this defamatory statement,” he said.
On the police report lodged by Nickodemus, Baru said action is being taken against the complainant and his lawyer for defamation and libel, and the matter is now pending in court.
“I would like to point out that the complainant who lodged the report did not bother to pursue the matter with the police, and no charge was ever preferred against me or YB See.”