New CM says no to Umno
Abang Johari hits the right note with Sarawakians with his stand on Umno in the state
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg has given his assurance that Umno will not enter Sarawak.
“As long as I am the chief minister and leader of Sarawak I will not allow Umno to come in,” he told a packed press conference after the swearing-in of the state cabinet and assistant ministers at the State Legislative Assembly here yesterday.
His assurance was a relief to Sarawakians who feared he might let Umno enter the state after he took over the helm of the state government.
The press conference was the first by Abang Johari since he was sworn in as the sixth chief minister of Sarawak last Friday following the demise of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
Abang Johari, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) acting president, said the state Barisan Nasional ( BN) would work together with Umno and other component parties within the spirit of BN, but the party (Umno) would not be allowed to enter Sarawak.
Aside from PBB, the state BN also has Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP) and Sarawak
As long as I am the chief minister and leader of Sarawak, I will not allow Umno to come in. Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), plus a BN-friendly United People’s Party. BN secured a landslide victory in the last state election, expanding its majority to 72 in the 82-seat state legislative assembly.
The coalition’s win was largely credited to the popularity of Adenan, who took over the reins in 2014. Sarawakians have rallied behind Adenan after he brokered greater autonomy for the resource-rich state.
On other matter, Abang Johari said the state government would pursue what had been started by Adenan.
“We won the election about eight months ago and we will continue to fulfi ll the promises made by the late chief minister and we will work as a team. We will also try our best to deliver what have been promised. All of us here (in BN) have pledged to protect the rights of Sarawak and pursue what were promised in the last election,” he said.