KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will nominate female and youth candidates for the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the new faces would also take into account how many seats were lost in GE14 – represented by Barisan Nasional (BN) at the time.
“There will be a surprise involving the new candidates later, I believe there will be young people and women nominated.
“So, let’s just wait for the announcement,” he said.
He was speaking to the media after officiating at the 2022 Entrepreneur Pocket Talk Programme and Youth Kitchen and Entrepreneur launch in Petra Jaya near here on Wednesday (Oct 19).
Previously, he had said that 30 per cent of GPS candidates would be new faces for GE15.
“Because in GE14, Sarawak BN only won 19 of the 31 seats contested and this means we lost 12 seats – it is equivalent to 30 per cent.
“So, during GE15, there will be at least 12 new faces who will contest to reclaim the 12 parliamentary seats.”
Elaborating, the Asajaya assemblyman said he was only viewing the matter logically.
“12 out of 31 is 1/3, and this 1/3 equals 30 per cent.
“I know some people say I skipped the Premier but I used a logical view on this matter,” he stressed.
Asked for his thoughts if nominated, he said he wanted to give the opportunity to others, especially the youth.
“I am less interested, if 20 years ago I liked to listen to debates in Parliament, now it is better to give opportunities to younger politicians.
“They are the ones who should fight in Parliament to represent this state,” he stressed.
