Pauls Baya resigns from PKR with immediate effect
MIRI: Deputy chairman of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Baram branch, Pauls Baya, announced his resignation from the party with immediate effect yesterday
In a statement received yesterday, Pauls said he joined PKR in 2011 after being inspired by former state PKR chairman Baru Bian and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How who fought for the rights of Native Customary Rights land in the state.
“I could see their selfless determination and sacrifices for the rights of everyday Sarawakian, and I joined to participate in the struggle against the systematic injustice against the deprived.
“With their support and encouragement, we had worked together in Baram and transformed this predominantly Orang Ulu heartland from a Barisan Nasional (BN) fixed deposit into a marginal seat for the opposition,” he said.
He added it was indeed with the leadershipof Baru as the then state PKR chief that the party here began to believe that a new dawn for Sarawak was possible.
Pauls said Baru’s struggles, which also included plans for Sarawak to be equal partners under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, however was not well received by the national leadership.
“They were persistently undermining him at every turn and had even recruited well known political saboteurs to weaken Sarawak’s position,” Pauls said.
He added their dismissal from PKR was without any explanation and contrary to the party’s constitution, whereas See was unceremoniously sacked just for displaying support and loyalty to Baru.
“Furthermore, the aim of PKR seems to be solely focused on the ambition of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He added the ‘Kajang move’ was to make Anwar the Menteri Besar (MB) of Selangor, which resulted in him being imprisoned the second time.
Another glaring example of his unbridled ambition, Pauls claimed was the ‘Port Dickson move’ for him (Anwar) to be the eighth prime minister soon after his release from prison.
He said Anwar as the president of PKR broke his promise not to interfere with the Harapan government by getting the incumbent MP of Port Dickson to vacate his seat so that he could be elected.
“I definitely did not sign to fulfil the personal ambition of the president, nor to weaken Sarawak’s resolve.
“I will therefore leave the party and continue to serve the people in my own capacity through non-governmental organisation,” he said.
Hence, he said he is looking forward to joining Baru and See as soon as they see fit to declare their new political platform.