Baru Bian: Leaders from East M'sia will be in Dr M’s cabinet

Sarawak PKR chairperson Baru Bian told a late evening press conference in Kuching today that Harapan leaders from the Borneo states will be included in the newly-minted federal cabinet of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said he is confident that leaders from Sabah and Sarawak will not be left out of the cabinet line-up now being put together by Mahathir.   

“There are still 11 ministerial posts, which have yet to be announced by the premier, and I believe that Harapan leaders in Semananjung will have the wisdom to include appropriate candidates for ministerial positions from the East Malaysian states.

“They should and would remember Sarawak and Sabah. This is very clear in our manifesto where we recognised the MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963).

“Even Tun M himself talked about equality of Sarawak and Sabah to the formation of Malaysia,” said Bian Baru.

Earlier, the PKR leader and MP for Selangau had chaired a meeting at the party headquarters in Kuching.

Baru Bian who is also Ba’kelalan assemblyperson stressed that Harapan leaders will make their decisions based on their manifesto, which gives him the confidence that leaders from Sarawak and Sabah will not be left out of federal ministerial posts.

He said it takes time to form the full cabinet as it is the prime minister’s prerogative to select the cabinet members based on recommendations.

“So far, we recognise and accept those already been appointed. Some have a very distinguished experience and background. That we must accept and respect,” Baru Bian said.

He said the earlier meeting had been held to plan the “new way forward” for the party.

“This is in view of the new direction and future of the state PKR with the dawning of the newly-minted Harapan federal government,” he said. - Mkini