'We will not bring in Umno,' says PBB leader

Sarawak's Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Abang Johari Tun Openg today denied rumours that the BN component is helping Umno form chapters in the state.

"I want to say very clearly, that we will not bring in Umno to Sarawak, whether by the current or future leaders," Abang Johari told reporters after heading a party election briefing today.

Umno has no official presence in Sarawak. Its leaders have never been barred from entering the state.

Abang Johari also denied Petra Jaya MP Fadillah Yusof's involvement in lobbying for Umno's entry: "Fadillah is said to be a leader that is trying to bring Umno in. In the past, they have used my name. But now that I have gotten on in age, they now say Fadillah will bring in Umno."

PBB controls 35 of the 71 state seats, and is expected to field candidates to contest the 11 new seats formed last November. Asked on what guarantees PBB can provide that Umno would not enter, Abang Johari said there two components have an "understanding", describing PBB as the state BN's backbone.

"There is a big difference between Umno and Sarawak, because in Sarawak we have bumiputera with varied backgrounds. And in Umno, they do not have such a demographic makeup. There are differences. The scenario is different. The leaders in Kuala Lumpur, the Umno leaders, are tone-deaf to these matters," Abang Johari, who is also state minister for housing and tourism, said.

Arson attacks

The state's dominant Malay and Dayak-based party, has sought to distance itself from its BN counterpart in West Malaysia, more so following the prolonged legal tussle regarding the use of the word 'Allah' by the Catholic Herald which ended in a ban early last year. A spat of arson attacks on religious buildings in 2010 had also heightened tensions.

Eleven churches were attacked in West Malaysia. In Sarawak, a mosque was vandalised after bottles of liquor were thrown in. Forty-six percent of the state's population is Christian, according to the 2010 census.

"We have Pesaka, we have the Iban, we have the Orang Ulu, we have the Lun Bawang. We have 37 ethnic groups. We don't have religious problems. We have a different culture. That is the big difference," Abang Johari said.

"The people of Sarawak know that we have our own culture and tradition that we have to preserve. And we are not involved in all these petty, petty, sensitive issues. We go forward. We have to look forward," he said.

The state BN has been on a streak of people-centric policy moves. Last April, the state government lowered electricity tariffs to between 2 percent and 40 percent, with RM20 in subsidies for each low-income household.

Tolls at three bridges in Kuching, Sibu and Miri have been removed and a RM1 ferry fee was enforced this year.

In addition, quit rent was abolished in March, while farmers owning less than 100 acres of land are no longer required to pay taxes. On Sunday, chief minister Adenan Satem announced a statewide reduction in the assessment tax rate.

Adenan has asked for a "strong mandate" in the coming state election, promising to retire after serving one more term. -Mkini