KUCHING: Chief Minister and Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Taib Mahmud has had a meeting with several senior PBB leaders to discuss the list of candidates, spawning rumours of an April state election.
Already in the wind is a possible April 9 polls, but Taib himself has remained evasive although at the Barisan Nasional (BN) convention on Saturday he did indicate that his 30th anniversary in office on March 26 “will have nothing to do with the state election” and that he already has a date in mind.
In the event that Taib is planning for April 9 polls, then his meeting with senior PBB leaders today speaks of “urgency”.
Party sources revealed that the meeting was held at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia here before adjourning to the nearby new State Legislative Assembly building where he met all other PBB supreme council members.
“This is the first round of discussion involving mostly new faces. PBB wants at least 30% new faces in the line-up. This means that at least between 10 and 12 old faces would have to go,” the source told FMT.
The source also said several more rounds of meetings were needed before the party’s full list of 35 candidates is finalised.
Taib has also reportedly warned BN leaders in Sarawak to start work as the state polls would be held soon.
Taib, who will celebrate 30 years in power as chief minister this year, is in a combative mood as evident from Saturday’s BN gathering where he raised his fist, asking the coalition members to “fight all out” for a BN win at the state election.
Over the last few months, Taib has come under heavy criticisms, especially from several websites and privately-owned Radio Free Sarawak about his vast “business empire”. But he has brushed aside all the allegations.
“We believe that he will take them (opposition) out during the state election. He just wants to wait for an appropriate time,” a party insider said, adding that Taib appeared to be building a momemtum for the state polls by revealing his strategy and timing bit by bit.
BN list ready soon
On Saturday at the Sarawak BN convention, he revealed three clues, political observers said.
“Firstly, he said there will not be any recycled candidates; secondly, his 30th anniversary in office on March 26 will have nothing to do with the state election and thirdly, he already has a date in mind and that the election will be held very soon’,” said a Sarawak political observer.
Speculation is rife that the state assembly would be dissolved before his 30th anniversary, thus making March 26, which falls on Saturday, a possible date for the nomination, with polls slated for April 9.
The number 9 is Taib’s favourite and on one occasion, he told the press that the forthcoming state election would be held on a Saturday, thus making April 9 the possible polling day.
However, Taib, the master politician, is keeping the date close to his chest.
Party sources, on the other hand, said that the names of BN candidates would be finalised this week and those picked would be asked to get themselves familiarised with their constituencies before the state assembly is dissolved.
The rumour mill is also going into an overdrive with speculation that the state election could be held by next month, following visits by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to Serian on March 19.
However, sources in PBB said that Taib would depart for Mecca on March 20 to perform his umrah and was expected to return home by the end of the month.
It is not certain if this plan has changed. - FMT
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