Baru Bian gets cracking in Sarawak

Joseph Tawie, Malaysian Mirror

Newly minted Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian seems to start off his new task on the right track.

“We have to put our house in order first before we ask others to join us,” he declared as a matter-of-fact.

“There is no point in squabbling on the appointment of leadership in the party when we fail to win seats at the end of the day,” Baru emphasised at a press conference here yesterday.

“Our concern and focus must be the bigger picture, which is to unite ourselves and PR partners for the next general election against the might of our political foes,” he added.

PKR a ‘race-blind’ party

On his appointment as State PKR chief, Baru said: “The fact I am Lun Bawang and coming from a small community shows that PKR is a ‘race-blind’ party.”

“That’s one of the reasons why I joined PKR in the first place. I am conscious that I need PKR today in Sarawak not as a Lun Bawang, but as a Malaysian leader, concerned for everybody’s needs and to fight for the aspirations of all Malaysians.

“PKR never advocates the supremacy of any race except the supremacy of the people (Ketuanan Rakyat).

“By doing so, one does not necessarily lose one’s identity as an Iban, Bidayuh, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Ulu or Penan,” he said.

Baru said Sarawak PKR will be setting up service centres in major towns in the state to strengthen the party machinery and to ensure its physical presence is felt by the people.

“It is essential that our physical presence is felt throughout Sarawak so that we can leave our footprints in all the areas we set foot on,” he stressed.

Achieve dreams and visions

He was optimistic that within three weeks, the new service centres will be operating.

“Next we must be serious in our recruitment of members because the message of hope and change must be disseminated fast to all the nooks and corners of Sarawak,” he said.

He said he would appoint his deputies and other officers within two weeks to assist him after consultation with various people in the party.

“Rest assured that the team will be a reflection of a progressive and dynamic organisation that will encourage everybody irrespective of racial or communal background to achieve our dreams and visions for Sarawak,” he added.