Ex-bishop continues to push PSB in rural S’wak despite not being candidate

KUCHING – It was weeks away from nomination day on December 6 when former Anglican prelate Bishop Datuk Bolly Lapok joined Party Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) on November 11. 

“On November 11, I was introduced to the media as a member of PSB by party president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh. Because of this, the media and people generally speculated that I would be a candidate for the state polls.

“Wong only introduced me as a party member and not as a candidate. But it came as a surprise to many when I did not show up at any of the 82 nomination centres on December 6.”

When contacted by The Vibes, Lapok was in the interior of Engkili lobbying voter support for PSB candidate and incumbent Johnical Rayong Ngipa.

Lapok was amused when asked about his so-called “candidacy”.  

“I was invited to be part of the PSB team in its quest to bring change to the political status quo in Sarawak. PSB acknowledged my presence would complete its image, as it was intentionally organised to embrace and give space for Sarawak’s multi-racial and multi-religious society.

“Too often this area was taken for granted, if not overlooked altogether.”

He said he will continue to preach against racial discrimination, corruption, and the dispossession of the rights of indigenous people.

“I was appointed as a ‘special envoy’ to the party president. In this capacity, I am available to help any PSB candidate if he or she so wishes. Despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19 standard operating procedures, I have been called to visit four more constituencies so far,” he said.

 “As a direct impact of my joining politics, grants in millions were already given to churches. Anglican mission schools received RM6 million and a government adviser. These were unprecedented.”

The retired prelate touted as a winnable candidate raised eyebrows among Anglican Christians and other Sarawakians when he joined PSB last month. Many saw him as lending PSB a credible boost in the state polls – particularly with the Iban voter bank.  

Sarawakians will vote in the 12th state election on December 18. – The Vibes, December 10, 2021