KUCHING: Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin’s acceptance into Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) hinges on the decision of the supreme council and party president, said Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah.
“You cannot just brush him aside. He won with a 4,000-plus majority, which means he must have been well liked to be able to beat the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate in that constituency (in the 14th general election), so you have to take that into account.
“Even the three candidates in GPS before, one of them used to be fighting against us, yet we are receptive of them and we can adapt to changes, so why can’t others adapt to changes too?” he said when launching the Miss Tourism International Friendship Pathway yesterday (June 22) in Lundu Town Square.
Abdul Karim said PBB would also need to take into account Willie’s support for GPS during the 12th Sarawak elections last December when he made way for PBB to compete in all three state constituencies under Puncak Borneo.
Asked by journalists if accepting Willie, the Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, into PBB would only perpetuate the party-hopping culture, he said: “Not exactly, because nothing is carved in stone when it comes to politics; enemies have become friends overnight and it has happened in the past.”
He said the party had its own way of handling Willie’s application, adding that it would look at all angles.
“The supreme council will have to decide after getting feedback from the three ADUN (assemblymen from the three state seats that form the Punchak Borneo parliamentary seat) because all three seats down there are held by PBB’s Miroh Simuh (Serembu), Datuk Roland Sagah (Tarat) and and Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong).
“So we’ll have to consult them and if they are to accept him, it’s okay, but if they say no, and deem him a liability, then the supreme council and the leaders would have to also consider from that angle,” said Abdul Karim.
