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MIRI – Although Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Abang Johari Openg has yet to approve the candidates for the state polls, the names are familiar ones as most of them fielded will be incumbents.
Sources from GPS told The Vibes today that all four component parties have nominated their incumbents and submitted the lists to Abang Johari.
“Some of these incumbents have been around for more than three decades. They have been contesting in every state election since the Barisan Nasional days.
“They will be renominated to defend their constituencies again.
“Since the pandemic started almost two years ago, GPS has been focusing on managing the health crisis. The incumbents have been busy doing just that. Their presence is still needed to draw voters,” said the source, who is among the incumbents in northern Sarawak.
The GPS coalition is made up of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
SUPP information chief Adam Yii told The Vibes that experience will be of utmost importance for the party.
“Yes, it looks like all our incumbents in SUPP will be renominated by our party president to contest again. They are in a better position to defend their constituencies.”
Yii, who is mayor here, acknowledged that the party has little time to groom election candidates due to the focus on managing the pandemic.
“Most of our efforts went into tackling Covid-19. We are still very much having to manage the outbreak. But the state election has to be held very soon as it is a constitutional matter.”
Yesterday, Sarawak opposition leader Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said he received information that the state polls will be called before the end of the year.
Wong, who is Bawang Assan assemblyman, added that GPS is concerned about Undi18 coming into law by year-end.
“GPS wants to avoid unpredictable voters and will rush through with the state election this year,” he said in a statement.
GPS controls 68 of the 82 state constituencies in Sarawak.
The state assembly’s current term expired on June 6, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Agong has extended its term until February next year.
If Melaka is going ahead with its polls after the collapse of the state government, the two states could very well hold their elections at the same time. – The Vibes, October 9, 2021