MIRI – Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) is not breaking apart, nor is there any major disunity in the opposition coalition, said deputy chairman Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng.
Miri MP Dr Teo, who is also Sarawak PKR vice-chairman, told The Vibes that the state PKR and DAP are involved in a minor argument on which has the most winnable candidates in a few constituencies in northern Sarawak.
He said in any public election – whether for state or parliamentary constituencies – each political party wanting to contest will put forward their preferred candidates.
“In the case of Miri, it has three state seats – Senadin, Piasau, and Pujut – these are considered hot seats.
“I won the Miri seat during the 2018 election (against Sarawak United Peoples’ Party or SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting) by a nearly 14,000 majority.
“I won in Pujut polling stations by almost 8,000 votes, Piasau polling stations (about 3,000 votes), and Senadin polling stations (approximately 4,000 votes).
“In this 12th state election, Sarawak DAP wants to field candidates in Senadin, Pujut, and Piasau.
“DAP lost Senadin to SUPP by about 4,000 votes during the last state election, and it also lost in Piasau to SUPP by about 3,000 votes.
“Sarawak PKR should be fielding our candidates in the Miri (state) seats since we won the parliamentary election by such a big majority.”
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition leaders have been critical over Sarawak PH, highlighting certain squabbles over which candidates to field.
GPS veteran Datuk Peter Minos yesterday said the results of the state election are a foregone conclusion, judging from the disunity in Sarawak PH.
“We do not even have to wait for the December 18 polling day to know who will win, looking at the level of disunity in PH.”
Minos is deputy information chief of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, GPS’ linchpin.
Dr Teo today said the dispute between PKR and DAP over the seats will be looked into by PH national leaders.
“The national side will mediate and decide the next step. In the meantime, we in Sarawak continue our preparations for the polls.
“Basically, our aim is the same – to fight GPS, to ensure justice, fairness, equal attention for all races, and equal distribution of wealth for all Sarawakians, many of whom have not been given what they rightfully deserve.”
He said it would be best for everyone in Sarawak PH to leave it to the national leaders to resolve any seat negotiations.
At the state level, they should focus on dealing with the mammoth task of facing GPS that has the resources and advantages in the run-up to the polls, he said. – The Vibes, November 30, 2021
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