He said he stood for equality of all Malaysians, including the state and the people of Sarawak.

“I am anti-inequality, not anti-leaders of the Federal Government and people of the peninsula,” he said while speaking on a live television interview on RTM’S TV1 last night.

Adenan said he was fighting for devolution of power to Sarawak as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.

He also wanted Sarawak to receive similar development to that enjoyed by states in the peninsula, he said, and had no intention of taking Sarawak out of Malaysia, describing such an action as stupid.

Looking ahead towards the coming Sarawak state election, Adenan, who is state Barisan Nasional chairman, said he was confident the ruling coalition would be returned with a big majority.

After the programme, he told reporters that the BN would nominate candidates of the United People’s Party and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak – both BN-friendly parties.

“What is important is that we want a candidate who can win, regardless from where, including candidates from Teras and UPP,” he said.

There are 82 state assembly seats to be contested in the state elections. Eleven are new seats created by constituency redelineation.

– BERNAMA