KUCHING, April 26 — Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary general Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggie pleaded with Former Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun to not sabotage BN in Selangau in the 14th General Election (GE14).
“We hope that he will help us and not fight us in Selangau,” Alexander said today.
He said state BN still regards him as part of BN although he is no longer with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) after his membership was terminated.
“Personally, I would like to appeal to him and Datuk William Nyallau to stay with the Sarawak BN,” Nanta told Malay Mail, in reference to claims that the two may render their support to PKR in its campaign in the election.
Entulu, Nyallau — who is the Lubok Antu incumbent member of parliament — and three other supreme council members were sacked as members of PRS recently over allegations that they brought the party into disrepute and public ridicule.
Nanta said it is not fair to say that Entulu, the caretaker minister in the prime minister’s department, has little influence in Selangau.
“He has served in the area as a three-term MP and, therefore, he still has influence on the people there,” he said, refuting claims that Entulu did not have much influence in Selangau, even before he was sacked from PRS.
Nanta, who is also the caretaker deputy minister of rural and regional development, however, believes that BN is still strong in Selangau, despite Entulu’s sacking.
He said although the voters are acquainted with individual candidates, it is the BN symbol that they will vote for in the election.
The BN is fielding corporate lawyer Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol, 57, as its candidate while state PKR has named its chief Baru Bian to contest in Selangau, which has 30,026 registered voters.
