KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women chief Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah has clarified that she has never mentioned the names of which incumbents from the party who would not be contesting in the coming state polls.
“There are some who have already informed that they are not contesting due to health factors.
“That is what I said yesterday (at the function in Serian on Tuesday). I did not mention anything else other than that,” she told the media after attending a Women and Family Department Sarawak meeting on Wednesday (Nov 10).
She then said that the announcement of the list of candidates would be the prerogative of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
On Nov 9, at the Bukit Semuja PBB Women meeting and empowerment session in Serian, Fatimah informed that there were incumbents from PBB who would not be contesting in the polls.
She said the matter had also been conveyed to Abang Johari and it was up to him to consider.
Meanwhile, a Facebook page ‘Sri Aman Mansang Maju’ on the same day had posted that PBB was expected to drop a few of its women incumbents.
The post went on to say that among the state seats expected to feature new faces was Lingga – its incumbent is Simoi Peri.
On the PBB Women’s preparations for the state polls, Fatimah said they would be modified according to the current situation.
“Before this, we could do it (campaigning) physically, but the situation is different now and looking at the election-related standard operating procedures for Melaka, it may be applied for the Sarawak election as well.
“So, we need to make modifications according to the suitability of the location such as whether it has Internet coverage and others such as looking at who the voters are.
“…and for this, we need to find a suitable way… and that’s our secret.”
