Awang Tengah shoots down factional feud claims
PETALING JAYA : Sarawak deputy premier Awang Tengah Ali Hassan has shot down allegations of a brewing silent rivalry between those aligned with him and supporters of premier Abang Johari Openg.
He dismissed the notion of a power struggle, insisting that the allegations were unfounded, The Borneo Post reported.
He also disputed FMT's report which stated that the rivalry between the factions aligned with each leader had been intensifying ahead of a potential showdown that could determine the state's future direction.
Awang Tengah, who is the state international trade and investment minister, also challenged the source cited in the report.
'It's nothing more than rubbish.
'I am not one to pretend. My support for Abang Johari's leadership is undivided,' he told reporters after chairing Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu's Bukit Sari branch committee meeting in Lawas last night.
His dismissal of the claims comes a day after Abang Johari said the 'baseless' allegations were driven by jealousy over Sarawak's rapidly growing economy.
Awang Tengah said the unfounded claims have, to some extent, sparked suspicion among certain quarters, painting him as someone who is 'power crazy'.
'I believe in what was instilled in me, which is the spirit of teamwork, loyalty to leadership and prioritising the party over any form of factionalism.
'I hold firmly to these principles,' he said.
On Thursday, FMT cited a source as saying the rivalry between the factions aligned with each leader could trigger intensive political manoeuvring in the months ahead, with the next state election slated for 2026.
Abang Johari commands strong support among rural voters and delegates from PBB, which he leads, according to the source.
He also has the support of the state's civil service, having aggressively pursued infrastructure development, digital economy initiatives and autonomy over state revenue, which flows through the government machinery.
Awang Tengah, who is a PBB deputy president, is seen by some as a charismatic leader, with the source saying that he also commands significant grassroots support and is an efficient administrator of state development projects.
PBB information chief Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had dismissed talk of a power struggle, saying PBB's top two leaders were not in competition with each other.
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