By Boo Su-Lyn (Malaysian Insider)
PUTRAJAYA, May 17 — The Barisan Nasional will fulfil its campaign pledges to the Sibu electorate despite losing the seat by 398 votes, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
The deputy prime minister’s promise contradicted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s statement that BN would rethink its campaign pledges to Sibu, including RM5 million to alleviate flood woes in the Chinese-dominated Rajang Park suburb.
DAP state chairman Wong Ho Leng wrested the Sibu seat at his fourth attempt, breaking the ruling coalition’s decades-long hold on the timber town.
“Whatever was announced by the prime minister, me or other BN leaders before, we will fulfil,” said Muhyiddin (picture), when asked on BN’s planned actions after losing the by-election.
Despite pumping in nearly RM20 million into the Sibu by-election by giving RM15 million to schools and RM1.75 million to four Methodist churches, the ruling coalition lost its stronghold to the DAP.
Muhyiddin said BN would conduct a post-mortem on the performance of its election machinery as well as its campaign strategies to analyse the reasons for its loss.
“We will discuss with the BN Sarawak division,” Muhyiddin told reporters.
The education minister also said that BN would continue to complete whatever commitments it had started for Sarawakians, regardless of race or religion.
“A part of what we have promised has already been fulfilled, whether it was for the Iban, Bumiputera, Melanau, Chinese or Malay communities, or Muslims or Christians, we did not differentiate,” he said.
“Whatever that we have committed, we will continue our commitment,” he added.
Najib had reportedly said that after Phase One of the RM300 million flood mitigation project in Sarawak, Phase Two would commence under the 10th Malaysia Plan.