KUCHING: Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak or Sedar has announced that it will contest in all eight Malay/Melanau majority seats in the 15th General Election (GE15).
The parliamentary seats are Santubong, Petra Jaya, Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Tanjung Manis, Igan and Mukah.
Sedar president Datuk Othman Abdillah said a consensus was reached between parties during a discussion on June 21 to divide the seats.
“The remaining 23 parliamentary seats in Sarawak will be contested by only one candidate from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi) and Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) in certain seats according to the agreement,” he said in a statement.
He added that although GE15 was different from the state polls, all opposition parties had gained experience from the state polls, in which there were splits in opposition votes and had not benefitted any party.
“Therefore, the consensus between the Sarawak opposition parties is not to compete against each other.”
He also said that all parties had agreed to contest under their own logo and would mobilise their machinery in each constituency to assist the contesting parties.
“All Sarawak opposition parties are convinced that only they are the best option to represent the interests of the people of Sarawak in Parliament.
“History has shown that party representatives from outside Sarawak are more focused on their own political interests.
“Therefore, they have repeatedly failed to win the hearts of Sarawakian voters. Moreover, the people have been deceived by their manifesto in the last GE14.”
