LUNDU: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing revealed that Saratok Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Ali Biju intended to contest under Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) in the 15th General Election (GE15).
He said Ali had approached him and expressed his willingness to contest under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ticket through PDP, soon after the dissolution of Parliament earlier last month.
“But we had to reject him because it was too late by then. As the President of PDP, we have to give suggestions early and tell the rakyat who our candidates are.
“From there, the candidates have to start their work because if they have any shortcomings, we will try to fix them. We give guidance to the candidate.
“That is why as the president of the party, I cannot change the candidate at the last minute unless the candidate has a big problem.
“As a president and as a leader, what we say we must do. We must deliver what we decided without turning back. If not, who will believe GPS? I am also part and parcel of GPS. No matter how, we need to go through (with whatever we decide),” he said.
He said this when met by the media after he officiated the Majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat at Dewan Kampung Pasir Hulu, Lundu on Friday (Nov 11).
In line with this, Tiong shared that prior to this, he had offered the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seat to Ali Biju but Ali declined it as he wanted a Parliamentary seat instead.
“I agreed with his wishes and intended to nominate him for the parliamentary seat under GPS and asked him to give the Krian seat to someone else during the State Election (PRN).
“The result of our discussion ended with him changing to a GPS shirt but when he flew back to Kuala Lumpur, he changed his mind and decided to contest under the BERSATU ticket instead.
“I tried to persuade him many times but it was to no avail,” he said
When asked what is the main reason behind Ali changing his mind, he stated that it may be due to the PN promised to give him the Deputy Prime Minister portfolio if he maintained to be in BERSATU and win this GE15.
“What is so great about being the DPM? If you are not able to help the people or make any changes for the people, there is no point in being the DPM.
“That is why I told him to not think about being the DPM yet because we still do not know which party will govern the country. If PN does not win this election, where will you get the DPM post?
“But nevertheless, he insisted on being with BERSATU and decided to seek to be the candidate under GPS only after the parliament dissolution which, as I said, is too late already,” he said.
