KUCHING – Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) has put a price tag of RM50 million on its president’s head and RM20 million on other candidates picked to contest in the Sarawak election this year.
President Voon Lee Shan told The Vibes that the amount is what each candidate has to pay the party should they fail to file papers on nomination day or party-hop after winning the polls.
“Anyone who wants to contest on a PBK ticket must first take an oath and sign a candidate agreement.
“The agreement stipulates that a nominated candidate who fails to file his or her papers on nomination day, or decides to cross over to any other party after becoming an elected MP or assemblyman, will have to pay RM20 million.
“If the party president defects, he or she is required to pay RM50 million.”
Voon said 21 potential candidates took part in an oath-taking ceremony and signed the agreement at a hotel here on March 29. A second batch will follow suit in two weeks’ time in Sibu.
However, it is unknown if and how the agreements are legally binding, and whether they can be enforced.
“The idea of having the candidate agreement is caused by a lack of protection by the state constitution against party-hopping by elected representatives,” said Voon.
“Party-hopping is seen as unhealthy, as it betrays the trust of the voters and party on whose ticket they (candidates) are elected.”
Voon said it is also to ensure there is government stability, without which, much time will be spent on politicking and enticing representatives to switch camps rather than running the administration and providing services to the people.
“The Federation of Malaysia is no longer workable, and Sarawak is no longer a country; it has been reduced to one of the states in Malaya.
“Many legal experts opined that Sarawak is being treated as a colony of Malaya.
“Since Malaysia came into existence, Sarawak has lost its territory, sea, marine wealth, and oil and gas resources to Malaya.
“In a day, it loses about 850,000 barrels of crude oil, worth some RM285 million, after the Petroleum Development Act 1974 was passed by Parliament.
“For 58 years, Sarawak remains undeveloped, with no proper infrastructure and an incomplete Pan Borneo Highway, which is riddled with potholes.”
As a nationalist party, PBK aims to unite Sarawakians to fight for the state’s independence, he added.
The party has assembled a strong team for the 12th state election, which is to be held at any time this year.
Besides contesting in all urban and semi-urban seats, PBK will also stand in all Dayak and most Malay-Muslim constituencies. – The Vibes, April 3, 2021
