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MIRI – Seven incumbent assemblymen from Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) will be defending their seats in the 12th Sarawak state election, said party secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting today.
He said SUPP will be submitting the names of the seven assemblymen to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg soon.
“SUPP has decided that all seven incumbents who won in the 11th Sarawak election will be named as candidates for the coming election,” he told reporters here today.
Apart from Ting who is standing in Piasau, the six other assemblymen are SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian (Batu Kawa), vice-president Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing (Meradong), Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii (Repok), Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang), and Lo Khere Chiang (Batu Kitang).
GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, SUPP and Parti Demokratik Progresif.
On October 24, the coalition’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said GPS would be contesting in all 82 Sarawak state constituencies.
Ting said in the last Sarawak election, SUPP was allocated 20 seats and he hoped the party would receive the same number of seats this time.
“All party machinery is ready. We will learn from the Melaka state election as they are the first to carry out a state election under the new normal announced by the Election Commission, which stipulates that gatherings usually held during campaign will not be allowed.
“I believe the Melaka election will be the model for all parties contesting in the Sarawak state election,” he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on the move by Sarawak PAS confirming it is contesting in 11 seats in the state election, Ting said that anything can happen from now to nomination day.
“We have heard many stories...but we can only verify the matter when the time comes on nomination day,” he added. – Bernama, November 6, 2021