‘Shadow cabinet’ list backfires in Sabah, S’wak
Pakatan Rakyat’s so-called shadow cabinet list has thrown Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘fair representation’ pledge to Sabah and Sarawak into the fire.
(FMT) – KUCHING: Pakatan Rakyat’s so-called shadow cabinet has come under fire here with many declaring that it was a ‘reflection’ of how the peninsular-based opposition viewed the state’s importance.
Last week FMT columnist Selena Tay revealed, after speaking to a Pakatan MP who declined to be named, a list of people who formed Pakatan’s shadow cabinet.
Except for two posts – Deputy Prime Minister 3 and at Transport Minister – all positions were swept by peninsular-based Pakatan MPs from DAP, PAS and PKR.
Responding to comments to her disclosure, Tay wrote: “I never forget Sabah and Sarawak but as mentioned above, this list is from the previous GE when the Sabahans and Sarawakians only gave one or two miserable seats to the opposition.
“If they vote Pakatan more, then their representation will be increased.”
Her comment and list have shocked many in Sarawak and neighbouring Sabah, where Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has been busy wooing MPs and voters.
It has also put Anwar’s spin that Sabah and Sarawak will be dealt with fairly under question. The grapevines here are spewing skeptism over Pakatan’s ‘real’ intentions.
Anwar’s PKR is already facing an uphill battle in Sabah where there is prevailing questions about the party’s ‘genuineness’ and threats from a fast expanding State Reform Party lead by former PKR vice president Jeffrey Kitingan.
Said one Sabah businessman, who declined to be named: “This is not even the real list. It’s only a shadow cabinet and they did not nominate anyone from Sabah, imagine after the elections.
“PKR cannot win any seats in Sabah and DAP maybe get one.. so what will happen then. We will still have only one miserable seat unless they tie up with a local party.”
Pakatan ‘no different from BN’
In Sarawak, local folk are seething at the ‘arrogance of leadership’.
A civil servant in Sibu who declined to be named accused the KL opposition pact leaders of having a short memory.
“They have forgotten that DAP and PKR together won 15 seats in last April state election and the fact that DAP here has two MPs.
“The shadow list ignored them completely. This could eventually be the real list, you know.
“How can you trust people who say one thing and do another? They are no different from BN,” he said.
Meanwhile Sarawak PKR vice-chairman See Chee How whilst admitting that many had roundly criticised the list, said that “the list is not finalised yet”.
“There is no official confirmation on the list yet. But I am confident that eventually there will be a better representation of Sarawak and Sabah if Pakatan takes over,” he said.
He also added that the opposition coalition will “heed public opinions” in the event Sabah and Sarawak delivered on its seats in the 13th general election.
