By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 4: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is eyeing at least 28 seats delivered by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
Given the strong performance of GPS in the last 12th Sarawak Election, Abdul Karim said he has a good feeling and believes the coalition will be able to win more parliamentary seats, especially those lost to the Opposition in GE14.
“Personally, I think we should be able to do better this time. I do hope Sarawakians will follow through (from the momentum) of the last State Election to the GE because we have to be seen as united.
“If you were to ask me how many seats I am hoping for, I would want all 31 seats. (But) in reality, I will be disappointed if we get less than 28 (seats). My target is 28 (seats),” he told a press conference during the flagging-off ceremony for DayakDaily D’Drift 2022 at its office in TT3 here today.
The Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, however, refused to go into the micro details of the “three seats” which may face some threats but pointed out that Selangau, Puncak Borneo, Lubok Antu and Saratok are among the seats which GPS can penetrate and wrest back from the Opposition.
“Baru Bian (the current Selangau MP) can contest anywhere he wants. I want to see whether he can make it into Parliament.
“After looking at the last State election results, we know we can make inroads into many seats. I will be very disappointed if Bumiputera-majority seats fall,” he said.
In the last GE14, GPS, then Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak, only won 19 out of 31 seats in one of the worst election outings, which also saw the downfall of BN that had ruled the country for 61 years.
Abdul Karim thus emphasised that GPS must deliver the 31 parliamentary seats for Sarawak must be seen as united in its fight to reassert the State’s rights.
“If we are able to deliver all 31 seats, I would say Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) would really respect us. I really hope that we can show it at the next GE.
“Winning or losing an election, as I have been in politics for quite a while, all boils down to how good your machinery is. If you have good machinery, you will deliver,” he said.
Telang Usan assemblyman, who is also Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chairman, Dennis Ngau; Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) Head of Section, Visitors and Products Management, Ecotourism and Business Development Arianti Atong were among those present. — DayakDaily
