KUCHING: Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is at risk of losing all seats as most candidates announced to contest in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15) are unfamiliar names.
Political analyst Dr Lee Kuok Tiung said the campaigning period, which is 14 days, was insufficient for the new faces to market and promote themselves to voters.
“I think most probably it’s going to be a total loss for PKR in Sarawak.
“Thus, it’s better for PKR to focus on the Peninsular,” he told New Sarawak Tribune today.
Lee was commenting on Sarawak PKR’s candidate list, which has 12 newcomers out of 16 candidates in the line-up.
The candidates were announced by party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Miri yesterday.
Prominent two-term Miri MP, Dr Michael Teo has been dropped and in his place is 31-year-old lawyer Chiew Choon Man.
Another political analyst, Dr Ammar Redza, likened the line-up as a ‘litmus test’ in trying their luck to win several seats the party is contesting in.
Comparing the general election in 2018 and the state election in 2021, Ammar said it would be quite difficult for PKR to win a substantial amount of seats.
“Statistically speaking, there is a mountain for the new faces to climb to make sure they can secure votes as well as to win seats in this election.
“At the end of the day, it’s about voters’ trust and votes cast, but looking back at the decision made by PKR, I believe that maybe they are trying their luck.
“Maybe they will focus on Peninsular or Sabah as well as trying to help their partner in this election, which is Democratic Action Party (DAP),” said Ammar.
