KUCHING – PAS remains adamant in pushing its agenda in Sarawak despite its poor showing in previous state and parliamentary elections.
For the upcoming 15th general election (GE15), the Islamist party is pitting its candidates in the five parliamentary seats of Petra Jaya, Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar and Sibuti.
Sarawak PAS information chief Syamsul Bahri Mohd told The Vibes: “The party is contesting these five parliamentary seats, which are the same seats it had contested in the 14th general election in 2018.”
However, Syamsul said negotiations are still ongoing with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, with whom it has formed an electoral pact.
“There may be changes. We may contest more seats, fewer seats, or we may even swap seats with PN before nomination day.
“We are still deliberating on this, as the political landscape in Sarawak is not the same as in the peninsula.”
In GE14, PAS candidate Zulkipli Ramzi managed only 2,719 votes in Kota Samarahan (P197). He was up against Barisan Nasional (BN) incumbent Rubiah Wang, who garnered a whopping 25,070 votes. Pakatan Harapan’s Sopian Julaihi managed to get 8,078 votes.
In Batang Sadong, Asan Singkro of PAS only managed to get 978 votes against incumbent Nancy Shukri (14,208 votes) and Pakatan Harapan’s Amanah candidate (1,880 votes).
In Batang Lupar, PAS pitted Wan Abdillah Wan Ahmad who lost to incumbent Rohani Abdul Karim (BN-PBB) who garnered 14,204 votes and PH-Amanah candidate Narudin Mentali (3,927 votes). Wan Abdillah only managed 2,020 votes.
The PAS candidate for Sibuti, Zulaihi Bakar, received only 1,617 votes against incumbent Lukanisman Awang Sauni of BN-PBB who got 12,214 votes and PH-PKR candidate Jemat Panjang who garnered 8,538 votes.
The PAS candidate for Petra Jaya, Hamdan Sani lost to incumbent Fadillah Yusof (BN-PBB) who garnered 28,306 votes and PH-PKR candidate Nor Irwan Ahmat Nor who received 13,289 votes. Hamdan only managed to get 1,350 votes.
Last year, before the December 18 state election, Bintulu PAS chief told local media the party had carried on with its dakwah activities in Sarawak despite losing all the parliamentary and state seats it had contested since 1999.
Abdul Halim Abdul Kadir said many people in Sarawak are ready to accept Islam and be led by Islamist parties like PAS.
He had reportedly said: “Sarawak Darul Hana is as big as the peninsula. We really need more funds to strengthen PAS in the state to ensure that our dakwah activities can carry on.”
The party pitted its lone candidate Mohammad Arifiriazul Paijo in the state elections last year in the constituency of Beting Maro.
In the five-cornered fight involving Mohammad, Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Jacky Chiew, PKR’s Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh, Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s Razaili Gapor and Independent candidate Safiudin Matsah – PAS garnered 2,058 votes against the incumbent’s 3,769, emerging second in the contest.
In the 2011 and 2016 state elections, PAS was also placed second in the Beting Maro race.
According to Syamsul, PAS had successfully made major inroads in the Beting Maro constituency, having formed 30 active branches since 2009. – The Vibes, October 16, 2022
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