By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, August 24: Both Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin and Saratok MP Ali Biju will not be able to stand for re-election under the Bersatu logo under the current political arrangement between PN and GPS, revealed PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
He said an understanding was reached between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) during their last meeting that no PN component parties will stand in the upcoming 12th Sarawak State Election (PRN12) as well as the 15th General Election (PRU15).
“In our last meeting, we have reached an understanding that PN component parties will not contest in Sarawak either in PRN12 and PRU15.
“That’s the current political arrangement that we have reached between PN and GPS,” Masing told DayakDaily when contacted today.
Masing was commenting on reports of Willie and Ali joining Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) last Saturday (Aug 22) during the party’s meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Similarly, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Idris Bunag said, as far as he knew, PN which includes Bersatu, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), and United Malays National Organisation (Umno), have indicated their support for GPS as a PN-friendly party, by not contesting in PRN12.
“At least that was what I have heard from the grapevine. I also came to understand that in any event of a Parliamentary Election being called within the immediate future, both these Bersatu MPs are tipped to contest under the GPS banner as what was done by PH (Pakatan Harapan) people in Semenanjung (Peninsular Malaysia) using the PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) symbol during the last GE14 in 2018
“I can’t confirm all this at my level, but that was what has been bandied around within a reliable circle,” he added.
However, Idris said he would leave the matter to Chief Minister and GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to deliberate and decide upon.
“YAB Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari could give a better and more concrete picture of the possible or likely stand of GPS vis-a-vis the current political “quandary”,” added Idris, who is also Muara Tuang assemblyman.
Besides being Saratok MP, Ali is also the assemblyman for Krian. — DayakDaily
