KUCHING: A new coalition, Gabungan Anak Sarawak (Gasak), will be competing in all 82 seats in the upcoming state election.
Gasak, if approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), will comprise five parties which are Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi), Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) and Sarawak Independent Alliance (SIA) — though it only has two registered parties in the coalition which are Aspirasi and SWP.
Gasak president Bobby William, 53, and newly elected PBDSB president, revealed that the purpose of the coalition was to eliminate competing against each other during the state election.
“We are still waiting for the approval from ROS, including the other three parties, to change their status from non-governmental organisation (NGO) to that of a political party.
“After attending three meetings back in January, March and June with all members from the five parties, the party has chosen its name and components,” he said to reporters at a press conference with Aspirasi here yesterday.
Asked if they had the numbers, Bobby said with the five parties, Gasak had more than 82 members, thus would be competing in all 82 seats in the state election.
He also revealed that he would be competing for a seat in Senadin, against Datuk Lee Kim Shin from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
“The reason why I chose to compete in Senadin is because I come from Senadin — also to see if Gasak is able to compete in the Chinese majority urban area.
“From there, I would like to see if Sarawakians will be supported anywhere in any seat, through the Semangat Anak Sarawak spirit,” he stated.
The pro-tem committee of Gasak comprises Bobby; Captain Engga Unchat, acting president of SWP as Gasak deputy president; Lina Soo, president of Aspirasi as Gasak chairman; Buln Ribos, chairman of Aspirasi as Gasak secretary; and Alex Leong Shaow Tung from S4S as Gasak treasurer.
