KUALA LUMPUR – PKR’s candidate for the Lambir state seat Zulhaidah Suboh says that the party only selects candidates based on merits of hard work and admiration from its cohort and totally rebuffs cabals or parachute candidates, as used by some political parties.
In an interview, she said that since the formation of PKR in the state, it has never failed to assist Sarawakians, though it receives no monetary assistance from any quarter. Hence, the party is well accepted by the locals and remains pertinent, she added.
“There is no room for pretence in PKR; we do not spring up like mushrooms only when elections are around the corner,” she said firmly to The Vibes.
The deputy head of Sarawak PKR’s women’s wing also voiced contentment that PKR continues to be committed to fielding young candidates, unlike other parties that still retain traditional mindsets.
She claimed that the incumbent Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition does not have new faces as it will always put up the “same old candidate”.
“They never give flexibility to the ‘anak muda (youths)’,” she claimed.
Malaysia saw how dedicated PKR was when placing a 21-year-old candidate during the Melaka election. Winning or losing is irrelevant – it shows that PKR practises mature politics.”
Some political parties, Zulhaidah expressed, choose to belittle young candidates with remarks seen as prejudiced and chauvinistic.
“You’d be surprised that some of these politicians have the tendency to say destructive things like: ‘Youngsters should not be interfering in politics because politics is only for grown-ups’,” she said, calling such a statement is unwarranted as those in the younger generation are future leaders, and that the nation should never doubt their capabilities.
On contesting, Zulhaidah who is one of the five female PKR candidates in the Sarawak election tomorrow, expressed that she will continue to voice and find solutions with regard to the infrastructure problems in the constituency regardless of whether she wins the election.
She is contesting the Lambir seat.
There are just too many issues here in Lambir, from clean water supply, electricity, deplorable school buildings – you name it, we’ve got it. Therefore, it is crucial that these issues are addressed without delay.
“It is sad to see so many leaders – politicians in power – failing to get their jobs done, instead betraying the rakyat, and not seeming to feel bad about it.
“The latest issue is when prices of goods increased dramatically. However, the most heart-breaking is the fact that the current Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Alexander Nanta Linggi, a Sarawakian, failed to put himself in our shoes,” she alleged.
Zulhaidah, who is well known as “Srikandi Bersih”, will be up against incumbent Ripin Lamat (Barisan Nasional), Dyanne Oshield Nickson from Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and Lila Mohamad from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) for the Lambir seat.
‘International-standard’ leader needed
Meanhile, Mukah PKR chairman Mohd Arwin Lim Abdullah, a candidate for the Tellian state seat, echoed Zulhaidah on youth candidacy.
Arwin, the youngest of the four candidates, reiterated that during the 14th general election, young candidates managed to garner several seats and created history when Pakatan Harapan (PH) took power for the first time since independence before the government collapsed in February 2020 by the Sheraton Move.
“In GE14 PH managed to liberate Malaysia from ruin by elite capitalists for continuous rampant corruption.
“Unmistakably, the rakyat started to accept young candidates,” he said.
When asked on the problems of the Land of the Hornbill, Arwin expressed resentment at the infrastructure as he believes this is the main crux causing Sarawakians to lose foreign prospects and investments.
“If a percentage of oil royalties is given, Sarawak would easily attract foreign investors and obviously this would benefit the locals as we would not solely rely on the peninsula.
“Furthermore, it will create job opportunities as there are many skilled people that are competent,” he said.
Commenting on issues of leadership for the chief minister, he confessed that Sarawak needs a leader of international standard who can place Sarawak on the globe.
Sarawak is desperate for a chief minister who is able to go beyond national level as we do not need a ‘jaguh kampung’.”
Comparing all former chief ministers, Arwin is of the opinion that the late Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub – the third chief minister and fourth governor of Sarawak – was the best dignitary so far and no one has surpassed him in developing Sarawak.
“After the late Tun Rahman, those in power only wanted to retain their legacy and this must be stopped,” he urged.
Sarawakians should not allow old leaders to remain too long in power to avoid the state falling into poverty, Arwin pleaded.
Arwin will face a four-cornered fight against Royston Valentine from GPS, Zainuddin Budug from PBK, and Sait Junaidi from PSB for the Tellian seat.
The Tellian constituency, an area with a Melanau-majority population, is one of the 11 new seats in the previous election following a re-delineation process, and comprises 10,059 registered voters. – The Vibes, December 17, 2021
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