KUCHING, Mar 11: Selangau MP Baru Bian says he is now an independent people’s representative committed to work for a better Sarawak.
The former Works Minister expressed his stand in a brief posting on his official Facebook page earlier this evening, saying, “I wish to clarify that I am not part of the group that has joined up (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia or Bersatu).
“I am an independent MP and am committed to working towards a better future for Sarawak and Sarawakians,” said Baru.
This is the first time Baru has made a public announcement since the last time he appeared on video to grant his support for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the nation’s premier.
Dr Mahathir suddenly announced his resignation as prime minister on Feb 24, which had led to a series of power wrangling episodes that shook the nation.
In the week-long political turmoil, Baru was with Azmin’s group which had split from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in the initial stage.
With Azmin was 11 other MPs, three of whom were Sarawakian MPs including Baru, Ali Biju (Saratok) and Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo).
In the race to be the most powerful man in Malaysia, the splinter group left PKR in support of Dr Mahathir who was then facing the challenge from PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
While Dr Mahathir was at loggerheads with Anwar, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s support started to gain momentum and along the way, Azmin’s group shifted their support from Dr Mahathir to Muhyiddin.
When Dr Mahathir and Anwar realised that Muhyiddin had quietly garnered enough support among the MPs, the two instantly teamed up together to undermine Muhyiddin’s support and many MPs were seen going back and forth between the two camps.
It was during this time that Baru decided to return his support to Dr Mahathir and make public his decision. The other Sarawakian MPs, namely Ali and Willie, chose to stay with Azmin.
Throughout the whole duration of political turmoil from Feb 24 to Mar 1, the day the King announced Muhyiddin to be the next prime minister, there was no official confirmation of Azmin’s group joining Bersatu, until today.
Muhyiddin today announced that all former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) MPs who had exited the party had joined Bersatu. —DayakDaily
