KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) election machinery needs to be well oiled for the upcoming 12th Sarawak State Election (PRN12).
PBB vice president Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said one of the areas the party must address is get Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) known to communities in the state.
“Towards this end we have put a lot of effort in social media, newspapers and socialisation programmes but these aren’t enough. We need to do more,” he said.
He said many village folk needs to be updated on the current political development or they would remain stuck in the past.
He cited as example how some old folk said they would vote Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak any time because he showed he was sensitive to their plight “not knowing that he is no longer the prime minister”.
“This is the kind of problem we must help to address ― lack of information.
“The perception of the community, especially the elderly, has to change because there is no more Barisan Nasional (BN) here. It has been replaced by GPS.
“So our first duty is to go to every corner of rural Sarawak and make sure it is GPS now.
“We have to do it aggressively because we are running out of time,” he said when officiating at the GPS-PBB Election Machinery Workshop held at Damai Beach Resort here, yesterday.
Dr Abdul Rahman further stated that the success of the previous state election should not put the party at ease as the political landscape of Sarawak has changed.
He was referring to post-14th general election (GE14) where for the first time ever, the federal and state governments are no longer “sehati sejiwa” (getting along).
“In the previous state election, we had the federal government behind us. That has changed now. PH is fighting us ― it will come to Sarawak as a major opposition force.
“A major battle is brewing but GPS should be able to force back the enemies because we have done more for the people while they only make empty promises.”
He said GPS must stress to Sarawakians that in the three years of its age, it is able to give Sarawakians projects that the federal government has taken back or withdrawn.
“GPS has also come up with several financial and social initiatives no other states in Malaysia could offer.
“Amongst the initiatives are the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS) for Sarawakian newborns, post-natal care incentive for mothers and the Kenyalang Gold Card for senior citizens.
“More are coming, insyaAllah,” he stressed.
“This shows that the GPS government is capable of taking care of Sarawakians and governing the state as well as leading us to be the most developed state by the year 2030.”
Dr Abdul Rahman who is also the Pantai Damai assemblyman further mentioned that PRN12 will be the first time the GPS logo will be used.
The two-day event which was held on Saturday and Sunday witnessed participation of 102 leaders from PBB Pantai Damai Branch.
During the workshop, participants raised issues in the constituency as well as discuss plans to promote GPS.
A political secretary to the chief minister Petrus Igat Mathias presented a paper at the workshop.
