"PBS IS IN THE BN FOR THE LONG HAUL. ….”

PBS denies it is pulling out of BN before polls

Papar Jan 03, 2012: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) on Monday dismissed speculations that the party is pulling out of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) before the coming general election.

Its Information Chief, Datuk Johnny Mositun, said the speculations were the work of individuals and groups intent on fooling the public into thinking that all was not well in the BN.

He said the PBS Supreme Council was aware of such speculative postings on the Internet and Facebook but pointed out that such comments and reports had no basis.

"It's nothing more than the work of people with over-imaginative minds who have nothing better to do. Nobody can force them to prove what they say, so they use the Internet to say whatever they want, true or not," he said after attending a funeral at Kg Limbahau here.

Asked if it was the work of the opposition, Mositun declined to comment.

"There's no saying if it is or not. One cannot simply make an assumption.

PBS will only advise people not to believe in unsubstantiated reports and statements on the Internet or even in the press from unauthorised persons or sources," Mositun said.

Mositun said PBS President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is abroad, had directed him to issue a statement reiterating the party's full commitment and loyalty to the BN.

He said PBS was aware of the speculation being perpetrated by certain quarters about BN component parties becoming disillusioned about their chances of winning in the coming general election and would soon desert the BN.

"Each time there are differences of view among BN parties, our detractors try to make it look like the BN is breaking up. They ignore or forget the fact that in its long history, individuals and parties have left the BN but the BN has always closed ranks and emerged stronger than ever," he said.

Mositun said PBS did not regard its position in the BN as a "marriage of convenience".

"PBS is in the BN for the long haul. PBS is a party fully committed to the BN cause, not a party that is in the BN merely to win seats in an election.

PBS will do its utmost to ensure a solid win for BN in the coming general election," he said.

Mositun also took exception to attempts by Pekida Sabah Chairman Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad's attempts to turn the RCI (Royal Commission of Inquiry) issue into a racial and religious issue.

"What are Akjan's credentials that he should presume to be the 'spokesman' of Federal BN leaders on this matter.

"He has no right to presume to know what the stand of the Federal Cabinet is on this matter or even use Datuk Seri Hishammuddin's name.

Furthermore, it was the national BN leadership that directed the setting up of the State fact-finding committee for RCI and appointed Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to submit a full report on its findings to the national BN leadership.

"Akjan should rightly direct his threats to the State and national BN leadership if he is so opposed to the RCI," Mositun said.

He said PBS and other proponents of the RCI stood by their stand on the RCI and would not bow to threats from any quarter.

"Let it be understood that no ethnic community or NGO need fear the RCI as long as the members are genuine Malaysians.

The RCI is only to establish who are genuine Malaysians and who are not.

"What is Akjan's objection to that? Why is he being so paranoid about this issue?" he asked.