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KUCHING – Incumbent Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng has confirmed that he will be running under the Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) ticket to defend his seat in the general election (GE15).
“Yes. That’s the plan.”
Sng won Julau in 2018 as an independent, only to join PKR later. He subsequently quit PKR, set up PBM and became its first president.
He might be facing Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president and former MP Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum – if not party secretary-general Datuk Janang Bungsu.
Meanwhile, Datuk Masir Kujat has confirmed that he will be using the “pokok” (tree) symbol in seeking re-election.
The Sri Aman incumbent believes that today’s voters are mature enough to know why they should be voting for an independent candidate this time around.
“Unlike several parties, I am struggling for more realistic things; those that are close to the people’s heart. These are more achievable, say within the next five years.
“All I am asking for is one more term before I retire from active politics,” said the 69-year-old politician.
Masir had won the Sri Aman seat three times since 2008, when he was a PRS member.
After falling out with PRS leadership, he quit the party and joined the opposition Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) in March 2019.
However, he quit PSB on March 30 this year, became an independent MP and declared his support to the leadership of caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Masir also contested in Balai Ringin in the last state election in December 2021, but lost to Datuk Snowdan Lawan of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-PRS.
Asked if any political party was sponsoring his candidacy in GE15, Masir said: “Sympathisers sponsor me, but to me, that is a normal thing for any independent candidate.
“They do have individuals sharing the same struggles and helping out in elections.”
When asked about possible rivals in Sri Aman, Masir said he observed that GPS had two personalities who had been moving actively on the ground.
The two are PRS Women chief Datuk Doris Sophia Berodie, who is also political secretary to the Sarawak premier, and Whelton Lumpoi, who is private secretary to Bukit Begunan assemblyman Datuk Mong Dagang.
Apart from the from GPS, former civil servant Wilson Entabang of PSB and PKR’s Tay Wei Wei had been seen canvassing for support, observed Masir.
On the other hand, Lubok Antu incumbent Jugah Muyang was still incommunicado and efforts to reach him today had turned futile.
Those in the know said Jugah was still hopeful of getting nominated by the GPS, but all doubts would be answered this Thursday – the day when GPS is set to announce its list of 31 candidates for GE15.
Jugah won the seat in 2018 as an independent after quitting PRS, but in March this year, he attempted to rejoin the party despite his application being met with a strong objection from those within the party, particularly the camp that had recommended lawyer and Engkilili PRS chairman Roy Gingkoi as the coalition’s nominee.
Nomination day has been fixed this November 5, early polling on November 15 and, polling day on November 19. – Borneo Post Online, November 1, 2022