I’m not defecting, says Krian rep

Krian assemblyman Ali Biju has assured Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing that the opposition will not 'behave like monkeys"

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR assemblyman Ali Biju, who has been dubbed a “giant killer”, has denied speculations that he is defecting to Barisan Nasional (BN).

Quashing rumours that he will be joining BN ally, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), he said: “No way, I am joining SPDP. I am a staunch PKR man and this is where I will remain.”

He also dismissed gossip that he had met and spoken to SPDP president William Mawan Ikon about wanting to defect.

“All these allegations are not true. I have not spoken to him (Mawan) nor met him,” said the Krian assemblyman.

In recent weeks, rumours of Biju joining SPDP have been circulating in Kuching and in Saratok after he defeated SPDP’s deputy president and assistant minister Peter Nyarok in the state election in April.

Biju slayed the three-term incumbent Nyarok by a 2,090-vote majority in a four-cornered fight. Biju polled 5,178 votes.

He is one of the three PKR candidates who were elected to the State Legislative Assembly.

The other two are Sarawak PKR chief, Baru Bian, and party information chief See Chee How. Both were elected to represent Ba’Kelalan and Batu Lintang constituencies respectively.

Attributing his victory to the people’s desire for change, Biju said: “Don’t label me a giant-killer. It is the people’s victory.

“The people dared to vote for me; they dared to vote for change. So labelling me a giant-killer is an over-statement.”

With ‘utmost respect’

Biju joined 15 other non-BN elected representatives in the state assembly which began its sitting yesterday.

BN lost an unprecedented 16 constituencies in the April 16 state election. BN ally Sarawak United People’s Party was the worst affected party, having lost 13 of the 19 seats it contested.

Its other partners, Parati Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and SPDP, lost one and two seats respectively. BN now holds 55 of the 71 seats in the state assembly.

The 16 opposition elected members comprise three from PKR, 12 from DAP and one independent.

The increased presence of the highly vocal opposition representatives has somewhat shaken the BN coalition.

Last week, several BN leaders had issued warnings to the opposition to “behave” in the house or face the consequences.

Biju yesterday assured PRS president and State Land Development Minister James Masing that the opposition members would give their “utmost respect” to the house.

“I can assure the minister that we will not behave like monkeys. We will give our utmost respect to the state assembly.

“Nobody should treat the state assembly as rubbish, ” he said.

‘It’s Masing’s interpretation’

Biju was responding to Masing’s recent statement equating the opposition to monkeys.

Masing had said that it would be “interesting” to watch how effective the opposition’s shadow cabinet would be.

Said Masing: “It will be interesting to watch whether the shadow cabinet can live up to its billing.

“A shadow cabinet is supposed to be a training ground for those who are waiting to form the next government.

“If they (opposition members) behave like gentlemen, we will have gentlemen in the next government. But if they behave like monkeys, then we will have monkeys in the government,” Masing said.

In response, Biju said: “It’s his own interpretation (of the opposition’s shadow cabinet.) What has been said by others is their own view.”

Biju was among 71 elected representatives who were sworn in before the speaker of the state assembly Asfia Awang Nasar yesterday .

Twenty-two of them are new members.

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud was the first to be sworn in. He was followed by his deputy Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang, Masing and the rest of the state ministers.

For the opposition, Wong Ho Leng (Bukit Assek) was the first to be sworn in. Next was the Kidurong assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing.

He was followed by Chong Chieng Jen (Kota Sentosa) and the rest of the opposition.

The assembly will sit from June 20 to 29.