MIRI – Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) can be a serious threat to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the urban Miri federal seat, GPS’ Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) secretary general Datuk Sebastian Ting has said.
PSB, a local opposition party, is fielding former mayor Datuk Lawrence Lai as its Miri candidate, whom Ting regards as a strong contender.
“We now have to consider the former mayor as a serious contender as he will contest Miri on the opposition platform of PSB,” Ting told The Vibes.
“He was head of the city council for six years and people of Miri know him, especially those in the government ministries, public departments and agencies, and private sectors like those in business and industrial sectors – as they have working links with the city council.
Ting said SUPP will have to work much harder to win back Miri which it lost to PKR in the 2013 general election.
Ting is Piasau state assemblyman and Lai’s former party colleague when the latter was a SUPP member. Lai left the party to join PSB last year.
SUPP is likely to field city councillor Jeffery Phang for the GPS ruling coalition, while PKR-Pakatan Harapan is fielding Miri incumbent Dr Michael Teo.
SUPP will contest in Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Serian, Sarikei, Sibu, Lanang and Miri.
The only incumbent it has is Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot, who will defend the seat.
Ting added that GPS will have a comprehensive manifesto for the 15th general election (GE15) that will see candidates contesting for Sarawak’s 31 parliamentary constituencies.
SUPP will have three sets of GE15 manifestos, including the GPS umbrella manifesto, said Ting, to be unveiled after nomination day.
“SUPP will unveil a localised manifesto for each constituency we are fielding candidates in.
“For example, we will have one set of manifesto specially focusing on our plans for Miri for next five years.”
GPS is made up of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, SUPP, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party.
GPS holds 19 of Sarawak’s 31 Parliament seats. – The Vibes, October 31, 2022
