MIRI – Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) is in the final stages of drawing up its manifesto for the 12th state election before its launch very soon.
Its deputy chairman 1, Teo Yu Keng, said coalition partners DAP, PKR, and Amanah will be convening a central leadership meeting in the first week of next month in state capital Kuching.
Teo, who is also state PKR vice-chairman and Miri MP, told The Vibes today that the manifesto will be the launching pad for Sarawak PH to get into full gear for public campaigning for the polls.
“Within 10 days from today, we (Sarawak PH leaders) will meet,” he said. “The contents of our common manifesto is in its final stage already.
“We need to fine-tune certain things with regards to our plans for reforming Sarawak land laws and civil service.
“Once finalised, we will launch it and go full gear in our public campaign, but we will take due care with how we will carry out our public outreach, since the Covid-19 pandemic is still very serious in Sarawak,” he said when interviewed.
Teo also said that the cooperation among the three state PH component partners is proceeding very smoothly.
“We are very focused on our aim to reform Sarawak through the ballot box in this state election,” he said.
He said Sarawak PH formed two new committees – the Land Reform Bureau and Public Services Bureau – last week to tackle current issues affecting the rakyat in Sarawak.
The new bureaus are to look into the needs of Sarawakians with regards to native land law issues, as well as public amenities and facilities.
PH Sarawak has already reached a deal in seat distribution for the looming polls, in a show of unity and intent among the three opposition parties.
The three parties confirmed their allocations of the 82 state constituencies for the coming state elections without any disputes.
PKR will be contesting in 47 state constituencies, DAP in 26, and Amanah in nine.
The seats for PKR are Opar, Tanjung Datu, Pantai Damai, Tupong, Satok, Batu Lintang, Asajaya, Serembu, Tarat, Tebedu, Sadong Jaya, Simunjan, Lingga, Beting Maro, Balai Ringin, Bukit Begunan, Engkilili, Batang Ai, Saribas, Layar, Bukit Saban, Kalaka, Krian, Daro, Pakan, Meluan, Ngemah, Machan, Nangka, Dalat, Tellian, Balingian, Tamin, Kakus, Katibas, Belaga, Murum, Jepak, Bekenu, Lambir, Marudi, Telang Usan, Mulu, Bukit Kota, Batu Danau, Ba’Kelalan, and Bukit Sari.
The 26 seats for DAP are Tasik Biru, Padungan, Pending, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang, Batu Kawah, Stakan, Mambong, Kedup, Bukit Semuja, Simanggang, Repok, Meradong, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Bawang Assan, Pelawan, Pelagus, Bukit Goram, Baleh, Tanjong Batu, Kemena, Samalaju, Piasau, Pujut, and Senadin.
The seats for Amanah are Demak Laut, Samariang, Muara Tuang, Gedong, Sebuyau, Kabong, Kuala Rajang, Semop, and Jemoreng.
The ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is made up of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party, who collectively control 68 of the 82 constituencies.
The state assembly’s current term expires automatically on June 8 this year, if GPS does not hold the state polls earlier.
The Election Commission will have 60 days from that date of automatic dissolution to fix the nomination and polling dates within that period.
Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg, who is PBB president and GPS chairman, had said that GPS wanted to hold the state election before the end of last year.
However, he said, the Covid-19 situation did not allow that to take place as planned.
Sarawak has seen 101 deaths and more than 15,000 positive Covid-19 cases so far. – The Vibes, March 27, 2021
