PBB VP open to fielding MPs if they are their parties’ best
SERIAN: Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is open to the idea of member parties in Gabungan Parti Sarawak fielding their MPs in the coming state election.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president said it is up to the respective parties if they want to field their MPs to win the state seats for GPS.
He said what is important is whoever is fielded is seen as the most winnable candidate.
Abdul Karim, who holds the two portfolios of Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Minister of Youth and Sports, said he expects this idea of fielding MPs in the coming state election to be discussed by the leaders of GPS.
“Outright, I would say if the rakyat want them (MPs) to contest, why not? There is nothing wrong in that but there is every possibility they may not be fielded in the next general election (PRU),” said Abdul Karim when asked by reporters to comment on GPS MPs who have expressed their interest to contest in the coming state election.
On a personal note, Abdul Karim is of the opinion that for an MP to also be an assemblyman would be quite a handful.
“I would think it is better to focus just on one role,” he said.
On Dec 1, it was reported that Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is set to make a comeback to Sarawak politics after his party’s supreme council decided to pave the way for him to contest in the coming state election.
According to PDP vice-president Rolland Duat Jubin, during the party’s recent supreme council meeting, Tiong, who is Bintulu MP, was endorsed to contest in one of PDP’s eight traditional seats.
However, he did not reveal which seat Tiong would contest.
Two PBB MPs have also expressed their interest to contest in the coming state election.
