KUCHING, 14 April 2009: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the backbone of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN), has admitted disappointment over the state’s representation in the federal cabinet.
Although expecting more Sarawakians to be appointed at the federal level, PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg however, viewed the matter positively.
This was because the prime minister had appointed Sabahan Datuk Seri Abdul Shafie Apdal as rural and regional development minister which would enable better understanding of the needs of the rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak.
“It is the prerogative of the prime minister, we have to accept it,” the state housing minister told reporters after presenting offer letters to 24 recipients of a low-cost housing scheme under the ‘Rumah Mesra Rakyat’ programme here today.
PBB representatives in the federal cabinet are its senior vice-president Datuk Douglas Uggah, who is natural resources and environment minister, Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister and PBB Youth chief Fadillah Yusof, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim and Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Taib.
Apart from PBB, other Sarawak representatives in the Federal Cabinet are a minister and two deputy ministers from the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), and two deputy ministers each from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).
Meanwhile, a local daily reported today that two Bidayuh members of parliament (MP) from BN were upset over the exclusion of a Bidayuh from the cabinet line-up. — Bernama
tangkup says
Bidayuh memang tidak puas hati kerana tidak ada wakil dalam Kabinet peringkat Kerajaan Persekutuan. Walaupun Sarawak diwakili dalam Kabinet Persekutuan tetapi semua dikungkul oleh PBB dan SUPP. Habislah bagus Kumpulan Bidayuh terus minta diwakili. Kita Bidayuh harus diwakili dalam Kabinet walaupun peringkat Timbalan Menteri asalkan ada wakil. Bangun Bangsa Bidayuh.