KUCHING – PAS candidate Mohammad Arifiriazul Paijo today submitted his nomination papers to contest in the Beting Maro seat.
This is in sharp contrast to the last state election in 2016, where the Islamist party had contested in 11 seats and did not win any.
The decision to field Arifiriazul was recently announced by deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, in conveying the choice made by PAS’ Syura Council.
Businessman Arifiriazul is a former Sarawak Petronas staffer and holds a Master of Business Administration.
Tuan Ibrahim earlier said the party decided to field just one candidate in the December 18 polls, due to the limited number of people from its election machinery who are allowed to enter Sarawak.
“Other factors include the limited campaign process for the Sarawak election, as well as the limited social media (internet coverage issue) here,” he said.
He noted that the Covid-19 pandemic still poses a critical threat to the state and country, which is also a discouraging factor.
Last month, Sarawak PAS assistant secretary Syamsul Bahrie Mohamad told The Vibes that the party was keen on fielding at least 10 candidates in the election.
He said PAS has a strong foothold in Beting Maro, based on encouraging feedback from the largely Malay-Muslim voter bank there. The constituency has close to 10,500 registered voters who are mostly fishermen, farmers, as well as vegetable and fruit growers spread throughout its three polling districts of Beladin, Undai, and Pusa.
Barisan Nasional’s Razaili Gapor is the incumbent.
Arifiriazul will be involved in a five-cornered battle for the seat, with the other candidates comprising Jacky Chiew (PBK), Razaili (GPS-PBB), and Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh (PKR).
In the 2016 state election, Razaili (BN-PBB) won Beting Maro with a majority of 1,707 votes. – The Vibes, December 6, 2021
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