Anwar is bragging, says Taib

Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud does not believe that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has the numbers to take over the federal government and become prime minister on Sept 16.

MCPX

“Let him continue to brag. The word is ‘brag’, Taib was quoted by The Borneo Post as saying today.

The paper implied from Taib’s statement that Anwar’s claim of being able to entice more than 30 BN members of parliament to Pakatan Rakyat was ‘far-fetched.’

The chief minister made the remarks to reporters after launching a book Constitutional Federalism in Malaysia by former state attorney-general JC Fong.

Sarawak has 30 Barisan MPs and many are said to be under the ‘direct control’ of the shrewd and powerful Taib, chief minister for 27 years.

It’s just a dream

However, rumours are abound in Sarawak that several BN reps could jump ship, particularly those serving their last term in parliament as they have nothing to lose.

Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dr James Masing, who is also state land development minister, was quoted as saying in the same paper that Anwar was entitled to his opinion.

Anwar’s quest to attract MPs from East Malaysia was nothing more than a dream, he said.

“I think dreaming is not a privilege for only those who are asleep. Dreaming can also be for those who are wide awake,” Masing said.

Talks in Peninsular Malaysia is that more than 15 BN legislators may also join Pakatan Rakyat.

But top BN leaders have always rebuffed such talks.