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BN must include component parties in making important decisions
KOTA KINABALU, June 9:
Barisan Nasional (BN) may break up if its component parties fail to respect the rule to make consensus decisions on a certain issues.
Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan was commenting on MCA Sabah’s decision to accept former Democratic Action Party leader Dr Hiew King Cheu just a few days ago.
“I believe it is vital for BN to ensure that the principle of consensus decision making is rigorously maintained, otherwise, it could cause the coalition to break up because the consensus principle is what strengthens and bonds us,” he said.
He was commenting on Hiew, who is also the Luyang Assemblyman, joining BN through MCA, whom party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai reportedly said had the blessings of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
On whether MCA’s decision to accept Hiew had the consensus of BN component parties, Pairin said it was very obvious it was not done with the consensus of the other component parties, despite the ‘blessings’ from the prime minister and chief minister.
“Although they (Najib and Musa) gave their blessings, it does not mean everyone agreed to it.
“When PBS tried to take in Datuk John Ghani when he left Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Umno objected to it and since we respect the rule of consensus decision, we had to let go.
“The same principle must apply here. That is very crucial, very important, because this consensual decision brings about a feeling of sincerity, respectability, commitment which strengthens and bonds BN together.
“This was just unethical of MCA,” he said.
Pairin recalled the principle of consensus also played a part in PBS’s re-entry into BN because if a single component had objected to it, they would not have been allowed to re-join the coalition.
He also questioned why MCA was insistent on accepting Hiew into the party, and linked it to their failure to secure seats in the peninsula.
The deputy chief minister said PBS would be writing to the BN central leadership on the matter and the contents of the letter would emphasis on the principle of consensus decision, adding other component members had also brought the matter up during the BN Supreme Council meeting last month.
