STOP COLD WAR PLEASE!

KOTA KINABALU : Leaders of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in the Tenom division have been advised against making political demands openly so as to prevent opposition parties from exploiting the situation for their advantage in the next general election.

Tenom Wanita BN chief Datin Ramahjan Sulaiman Khan said today that while the component parties were free to express their views or ideas, these requests should be made behind closed doors or through the proper channela.

“We do not want the opposition to exploit the situation following the statement published in the media yesterday (Tuesday). I feel that any issue can be resolved amicably in the BN family spirit, what with the next general election due to be held soon.

“We should take heed of the advice of the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) for us in the BN to work as a team and as advised by the chief minister (Datuk Seri Musa Aman), for us to talk less and work more for the people,” she told a news conference, here.

Ramahjan, who is the Tenom Umno chief, was commenting on a report in local newspapers quoting Melalap Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) chief Datuk Radin Malleh as saying that PBS wanted the BN leadership to consider “returning” the Tenom parliamentary seat to the party in the next general election. The seat is now held by Datuk Raime Unggi of Umno.

Radin, who is PBS vice-president, said Tenom was the traditional stronghold of PBS and its influence there was still strong.

Ramahjan said Radin might have issued the statement to get his supporters to continue to back him in the next general election, but “it was not necessary to have made the statement openly because we work for the people all the time and it is up to them to make the evaluation”.

She said it was hoped that a meeting of the Tenom BN division could be held soon to redress the situation and ensure that the division remained united.

Meanwhile, Tenom BN secretary Patar Saluang urged all supporters of BN component parties in Tenom to remain calm over “the latest issue which we have just come to know”.

“We hope that such matters will not be discussed openly. We do not want it to look like there is a split in Tenom BN.

“We will leave it to the BN top leadership to make the decision and all Tenom BN component parties should abide by that decision,” said Patar.(Bernama)