The President of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said it was a desperate attempt by the PKR to lure the people to join their party.

“As far as SUPP is concerned, all our six MPs are committed to the BN struggle, let alone joining PKR or the Pakatan Rakyat. It’s an absolute lie on PKR’s part,” Dr Chan told Eastern Times here yesterday.

He pointed out that PKR had been very vocal on forming the federal government, especially after winning the Permatang Pauh by-election on August 26.

“But that’s just one seat which they have been holding all along,” he added.

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) President and Minister of Land Development Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said the Pakatan Rakyat was just having a dream.

“Currently, I am away overseas, but I am in touch with all our six MPs and I can assure you that they are still very much with the BN,” he said.

He said the Pakatan Rakyat should not be over-zealous in their attempt to form the next government as it could backfire.

“I hope they can stop dreaming. But again, this is a democratic country. So let them talk what they want,” he said.

Deputy President of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Assistant Minister of Modernisation and Agriculture, Datuk Peter Nyarok, said all their four MPs are very committed to the struggles of the BN.

“As far as SPDP is concerned, all our four MPs are matured politicians and we have said that we will sink or swim with the BN. Our four MPs, Dato Seri Tiong King Sing, Datuk Tiki Lafe, Dato Jacob Sagan and Jelaing Mersat have assured the party that they will not jump ship,” he said.

He said jumping ship was not a political culture in Sarawak. “It’s just not our political culture here,” he stressed.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Senior Vice President, Dato Sri Haj Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, said the opposition’s claim was baseless and aimed to bluff the people.

“It’s a desperate attempt to grab power. They just want to bluff the people into believing them,” he said.
Awang Tengah said the State BN had assured the Prime Minister during his last visit here that Sarawak BN Members of Parliament would not jump ship.

“This is our commitment and we fully support our PBB President and State BN chairman, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, that we will continue to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to lead the country,” he said.

He assured the people that the State BN would continue to work for the people and would not be hood-winked by the opposition.
“We are not making any noise as the general election is over after March 8. We are now concentrating on our development agenda and helping the people,” he added.

The state BN leaders were asked to comment on PKR’s State Liaison Chief and State Assemblyman for Padungan Dominic Ng that Pakatan Rakyat had the mandate to form the next federal government.

“We are confident of forming the next federal government, come September 16,” said Ng at a press conference at their PKR headquarters at Matang Jaya here yesterday.

He added that Pakatan Rakyat would have 40 additional parliamentary seats, with a strong 10-seat majority once the cross-over was completed on September 16.

Currently, the BN has 140 seats and Pakatan Rakyat, 82.