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MIRI – The constituency of Sibu, viewed by Sarawak’s ruling elite as a prized asset agonisingly lost to opposition hands for some dozen years, is now at the heart of a frenetic multi-layered wrangle as the 15th general election (GE15) inches closer.
The seat, presently held by DAP, is seeing two components from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which is in power over the state, staking claims to contest it on behalf of the ruling coalition.
While the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) wants its candidate to run in Sibu, its coalition partner, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is also keen.
Both feel they have what it takes to dislodge DAP, a peninsula-based outfit.
PBB’s Sibu chairman Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee claims that GPS wants to field him as the candidate.
However, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting of SUPP may pip him to it.
Ting is likely to be SUPP’s top choice to be nominated on behalf of GPS.
Another favourite is Wong Ching Yong, SUPP’s Dudong branch chairman.
Ting said today that though he is personally not keen to enter into a public election, he will do so if left with no choice.
“Personally, I am not interested in taking part in any public election as a candidate. However, if required to be one, I will have to accept.
“How can I not accept it, as it is a duty to the rakyat?” he said when chairing a municipal council full committee meeting in Sibu town today.
He said that he communicated this to GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, who is also Sarawak premier, during a meeting on Sibu’s municipal issues.
However, Dr Annuar, stressed that there is no such thing as a seat belonging to a certain party.
“The most important thing is who is the most winnable,” said the state assemblyman for Nangka, which is within Sibu’s boundaries.
Indeed, Sibu is known as the state government’s “traditional lost-seat” due to three consecutive election defeats by DAP, all in devastating fashion – and GPS is unhappy.
The Vibes had reported on October 21 that SUPP believes the Chinese-majority constituency is its traditional seat, before DAP wrested it in 2011.
Dr Annuar said the image of the constituency as a traditional asset that has slipped away must be dealt with.
His party feels that there must be a winnable candidate from GPS during nomination day on November 5.
“We (the ruling state coalition) lost Sibu to DAP when our candidate was defeated by DAP in the 2010 parliamentary by-election,” he said during a PBB gathering in Sibu town last night.
“We lost Sibu again in the general election in 2014 and then again in 2018,” he said in recalling the three occasions when Robert Lau was defeated by DAP candidates.
“We cannot keep losing Sibu like this. This time around, we must find a strong, capable candidate able to win Sibu for GPS.”
Battle of prominent Sibu politicians
The decision will eventually depend on GPS leaders.
If GPS indeed nominates Annuar, it will be a big fight against two other popular local Sibu politicians.
He will likely take on Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, the president of local opposition Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and incumbent MP Oscar Ling of DAP.
Wong had announced during a party meeting in PSB’s Sibu headquarters last month that he is obliged to contest the seat.
“As the president of PSB, I have to lead the party into GE15, which will see parliamentary elections in Sarawak.
“It is also the wish of the party and the rakyat in Sibu that I contest the parliamentary seat,” said the state assemblyman for Bawang Assan, which is in Sibu town.
Wong said that although he is advancing in age at 78 years, he still has the will to serve the rakyat.
He vowed to do his best to perform his duties at both parliamentary and state assembly levels.
Ling had successfully defended the seat with a margin of over 11,000 votes in the 2018 parliamentary polls.
He was recently appointed as DAP’s Sarawak election director for GE15. – The Vibes, October 27, 2022