KUCHING: The candidates that will be contesting under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ticket for the three Bidayuh-majority Parliamentary seats will be announced by GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg soon.
Having said this, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Vice President Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, who remained tight lipped on the names of the candidates, pointed out that it is most important for them to be able to give full commitment in helping the people and not just spewing out mere rhetorics during the election.
“It is true that GPS has placed candidates in the three Bidayuh majority seats in the 15th General Election (GE15), but let the Premier make the announcement in the near future.
“We are a democratic country, so anyone can contest in any seat they want in the elections.
“Whoever it is, GPS will fight them and we will show that we are the better party, the best party for the people that are fully committed to helping the people. We are not a party that is rhetoric and only does our duty during the election season,” he said.
He said this when met by the media after officiating the 2nd International Conference on Innovative Science and Technology for Research and Education (InnoSTRE) 2022 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
For the record, the three Bidayuh majority parliamentary seats that Sagah was referring to are the Serian, Puncak Borneo and Mas Gading seats.
In GE14 (2018), only Serian was successfully defended by Barisan Nasional (BN) which was represented by the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), while Puncak Borneo and Mas Gading fell to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
However, on August 6, Puncak Borneo ‘returned’ to GPS, after its incumbent Datuk Willie Mongin was accepted to join the PBB.
When asked if Willie will be nominated and defending his seat, Sangah replied, “I do not know.
“I don’t know as I do not have the list. I think it is better that you ask the GPS chairman (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg) whether he is in the list or not,” he said, while keeping mum on the recommendation of candidates for any of the seats involved.
As for the Serian seat, it is almost certain that the incumbent Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem will defend it since SUPP leaders confirmed Riot’s re-candidacy, but the final decision rests with the GPS Chairman.
Puncak Borneo will see candidates from the PBB placed there, while Mas Gading is allocated to Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
