KUANTAN: Works Minister Baru Bian has denied claims that he boycotted the 13th PKR National Congress last weekend.
Baru, who is PKR's ex-Sarawak chief, said he could not attend the three-day congress as he was on a working visit to Ipoh, Perak, and Kuantan, Pahang.
He also said he had instructed his political secretary Zakaria Abdul Hamid to notify the PKR Congress secretariat of his absence.
Baru said this after being chastised by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for being absent over the course of the event.
On Saturday, Baru said, he was in Ipoh to offciate the closing ceremony of a sports event hosted by Works Ministry.
He also said he was in Kuantan to visit the Malaysian Highway Authority headquarters and to attend a journalist awards ceremony hosted by the East Coast Expressway.
"Many other delegates from Sarawak attended (the congress). I am only the Sarawak PKR chief and I did not contest for a post in the Central Leadership Council (MPN) because I wanted to give way to other people.
"If I was elected or appointed, I would have become the chairman of Sarawak PKR's MPN... otherwise, I'm only a small figure in the party.
"My cabinet minister's post is different from my political positions. It is my responsibility to carry out my duties as a minister," he told reporters when met here last night.
Yesterday (Sunday), newly-minted PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chastised Baru for his absence over the course of the three-day 13th PKR National Congress.
Anwar had claimed Baru gave no explanation for not attending the congress, which took place at the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam.
“Baru Bian… no reason (for his absence). That is why I called him out (during my adjournment speech).
“I had said that there was a minister who was not present (at the congress),” Anwar was quoted as saying said during a press conference following the congress’ conclusion.
He had said two other leaders – Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar – were unable to make it due to official duties abroad.
Saifuddin was accompanying Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on a two-day working visit to Papua New Guinea.
Xavier is away in Egypt, where he is chairing a meeting at an international conference.
Baru also made it clear that he did not boycott the congress as claimed by certain quarters within PKR.
"It is not a boycott. The two ministers were on duty overseas while I was in the country (doing my job)... there is no difference," he said.