PBB assemblymen will not be fielded in GE14: Abang Jo

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the backbone of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition will not field its state assemblymen in any of the 31 parliamentary constituencies in the coming 14th General Elections (GE14).
Its president Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this was the stand taken by the party in facing the coming polls to enable the elected representatives to better serve their constituents.
The Sarawak Chief Minister and Sarawak BN chairman also hoped the other three state BN component parties – Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) – would make a similar stand for "better enrichment".
"All prospective candidates in the GE14 from Sarawak will also be screened by the various relevant agencies before their names are submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak when the time comes," he told a press conference after opening the Satok PBB branch delegates meeting here today.
These agencies included the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC), police, Insolvency Department, Immigration Department and Inland Revenue Board.
Abang Johari said the matter cannot be taken for granted because it had occurred both within and outside the state that saw by-elections being held when the victory of the candidate was declared null and void due to various reasons.
"We don't want any controversy, the issue of eligibility can be decided by the court but what is important is that we don't want the possibility of a by-election later, it is a waste of time and energy," he added.
In the 11th Sarawak state election last year, PBB had won all 40 out of the 82 state seats contested. — Bernama