KUCHING: The question of who should contest the Puncak Borneo parliamentary seat is best left to the top leaders of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to decide.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said ultimately, the goal was to win the seat for GPS.
“(Transport assistant minister and Mambong assemblyman) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil has his own opinion on this but at the end of the day, the top leadership will decide,” he told reporters during a function on Wednesday (Feb 9).
He was asked to comment on a statement by Dr Jerip who reiterated that Puncak Borneo belongs to PBB, the main GPS component.
Currently the seat is occupied by Datuk Willie Mongin of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) – a partner of GPS in the federal government.
On when whether the incumbent should step aside and make way for PBB, Dr Rundi said ultimately the decision was Willie’s to make.
“Initially there was an understanding that Bersatu will not put their candidate to contest against GPS, so I leave it to Willie,” he said.
The Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Minister said due to both GPS and Bersatu forming the federal government, the latter should remember their promise to the GPS.
“They must honour that and if they don’t, we will fight them,” he said.
On Tuesday, Dr Jerip asserted that there would be no compromise on the Puncak Borneo parliamentary seat.
“Because Puncak Borneo is a PBB seat and it will always be a PBB seat, there will be no compromise on that,” he said when asked if a GPS candidate should be fielded in the constituency in the 15th general election (GE15).
