PDP declares that it will defend its eight seats in the coming Sarawak polls

THE Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) will defend the eight state constituencies it holds in the coming Sarawak state election.

Its deputy president Datuk Henry Jinap said the party is confident that voters will still support PDP-GPS in the coming 13th Sarawak polls.

"The voters know our ability. They will vote for us," he said.

PDP is the incumbent party in the state constituencies of Tasik Biru, Kerian, Meluan, Dudong, Marudi, Bawang Assan, Engkilili and Bakelalan.

Last Sept 9, the Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) and PDP squabbled over the right to contest in the Batu Lintang state constituency in the election which is due by 2026.

The two parties, both of which are part of the GPS state government, had bickered over which party is more winnable in the Chinese-majority seat located in Kuching.

PDP senior vice-president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh had reportedly said at a party meeting that PDP has better chances of winning Batu Lintang in the coming state polls.

"PDP has already identified a candidate for Batu Lintang.

"We believe we can win Batu Lintang, a seat which SUPP had lost numerous times before," said Wong, who is state assemblyman for Bawang Assan.

SUPP Batu Lintang youth chief Liew Leong Yee blasted Wong, saying that PDP is creating rifts within GPS by staking claim to Batu Lintang.

"We in SUPP call on the GPS Supreme Council to make a stance as the statement by Wong can jeopardise unity and harmony in GPS.

"PDP is openly violating the spirit of cooperation in GPS as Batu Lintang is traditionally a seat contested by SUPP," he said.

That was the second time in four months that SUPP and PDP had openly quarrelled over the right to place candidates for the next state election.

In late May last year, PDP and SUPP bickered for the right to field candidates for state constituencies in Sibu Division in central Sarawak.

These Sibu  constituencies of Bawang Assan, Dudong and Bukit Assek are Chinese-majority seats considered as "hot seats" where SUPP has traditionally fielded its candidates.

However, PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is now the incumbent assemblyman for Dudong while PDP senior vice Wong Soon Koh is assemblyman for Bawang Assan.

SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian had said during an event in Sibu that SUPP has better qualified candidates for Sibu for the next state election.

"We have identified very capable candidates who are young and hardworking for Sibu seats.

"SUPP will contest in these Sibu seats," he said.

Wong immediately reacted and told reporters in Sibu that Dr Sim should "shut up".

"It is not for him to decide which party will get the seats.

"The final decision will be made by premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

"Who is he to start naming candidates. He should shut up now before the situation boils over," Wong said.

Wong said that as the incumbent assemblyman in Bawang Assan, he had served the constituents well.

Wong was president of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) but joined PDP after PSB dissolved itself during Chinese New Year this year.

PDP also absorbed other former PSB assemblymen (Baru Bian of Bakelalan and Johnical Rayong of Engkilili) plus 80,000 over members.

Wong and Dr Sim were once colleagues in SUPP during the 1980s and 1990s and early 2000.

Wong had major internal disputes with the SUPP president at that time Tan Sri Dr George Chan that lasted till 2011.

After the 2011 state election, Wong and his supporters broke away from SUPP and formed PSB.

Till today, Wong and the current set of SUPP leaders are still at loggerheads over issues pertaining to Sibu, especially the politically hot issues.

Now, they have brought their quarrel to Batu Lintang.

Top of these hot issues now will be who has the right to contest in the Sibu and Batu Lintang seats for the 2026 state election. – March 29, 2025