Ali Biju says among those likely to get federal cabinet post

KUCHING: Saratok MP Ali Biju is likely to be among Sarawakian parliamentarians to be roped into the federal cabinet led by Pakatan Harapan ( PH).

According to him, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Sarawak leaders council had submitted his name as one of the potential candidates to be given one of the remaining portfolios in the federal cabinet.

“Whether it is full or deputy minister, it doesn’t matter. The post is still part of the cabinet,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Ali, who is one of the PKR Sarawak vice- chairmen, said the portfolio that he would look forward to must be something that is more relevant to the unique situation in Sarawak.

He said PKR Sarawak is expecting one or two full ministers to reflect the PH manifesto.

“We need more representation from Sarawak in the (federal) cabinet. Three or four full ministers from PH should be the figure that reflects the manifesto.”

Ali, 50, is a civil engineering graduate from Valparaiso University, Indiana, USA. Currently, he is operating his own company, doing civil engineering work in the oil and gas industry.

Asked how he would juggle his responsibility should he become a federal minister or deputy minister given that he is also the assemblyman for Krian, Ali said Krian is actually one of the state constituencies under the Saratok parliamentary area.

“So automatically, if I were to take care of Saratok, Krian is also part of it,” said Ali, who has been Krian assemblyman since 2011.

In the recent parliamentary polls, Ali defeated Subeng Mula from BNPDP with a majority of 989 votes in a straight fight, when he (Ali) garnered 11,848 votes.