KUCHING: Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has pledged absolute loyalty to Barisan Nasional, saying that the state’s coalition will “live and die with our friends in Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah”.

The Sarawak Chief Minister said the large portion of Barisan-elected representatives from Sarawak and Sabah signified a shift of national agenda towards the two Malaysian states on Borneo.

“We now have the chance to show how the PBB spirit, in particular, will focus not just on peace, harmony and development in Sarawak, but also how we can help Malaysia develop as a whole,” Taib said, speaking at a thanksgiving dinner organised by PBB Petrajaya branch for its election workers and volunteers here late Friday.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that the majority supports the Prime Minister. The responsibility to ensure that Malaysia keeps developing depends a great deal on us.”

In the 13th General Election last month, PBB won all 14 constituencies it contested in. The Taib-led party emerged from the elections with larger winning majorities in all the 14 constituencies.

On the Opposition, the Chief Minister alluded to protests planned in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

“Their propaganda accuses us a lot of things. But for most voters, including myself, we all knew how peaceful polling day actually was.

”It was ‘bersih’. We must defend our good name. Malaysia has among the best track records of any developing nation in terms of organising elections.”

– THE STAR