By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 17: It would seem that Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) has failed to convince Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to give in to its request of contesting in Dudong constituency in Sibu.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Dudong chief Wong Ching Yong said he was confident that the issue of PDP intending to contest in Dudong had been settled amicably.
“Our president (Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Han) came this morning to pay a visit to our SUPP Dudong branch office at Jalan Aman. He was asked by the media with regards to PDP’s intention to stand in Dudong under GPS.
“Dr Sim’s reply was — ‘According to GPS’ practice, all election material from Kuching headquarters will be sent to the branch which GPS identifies or recognises as its candidate.
“So for the Dudong case, all election material has been sent to the SUPP Dudong branch office, and the branch will later distribute it to the Dudong branch of other component parties. According to Dr Sim, this was the sign the candidate for Dudong will be from SUPP Dudong branch,” Wong told DayakDaily over a telephone interview.
He said Dr Sim also cited Nangka as an example.
As Nangka is a seat traditionally allocated to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), all election material has also been sent to PBB Nangka branch office whose chairman is Nangka incumbent Dr Annuar Rapaee, who will in turn distribute the material among the Nangka branches of the component parties.
“Dr Sim also clarified that the rumours of ‘Dudong may be allocated to PDP’ was only speculation and nothing else,” said Wong, who is a chartered accountant.
Rumours of PDP’s great interest in Dudong started when PDP president Dato Sri Ting King Sing, who is also Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China, was seen moving on the ground in Sibu, visiting longhouses in the constituency.
On Aug 2 when he was interviewed by DayakDaily, he neither admitted nor denied speculation that he would be contesting in one of the State constituencies in Sibu, and had only expressed interest in serving Sibu, his birthplace which he grew up in before moving to Bintulu.
The speculations of PDP wanting to contest in Sibu began as early as September 2019 when PDP vice president Teo Boon Siew made a public statement that the party was eyeing three seats in the central region namely Bawang Assan, Pelawan and Dudong in the 12th Sarawak Election.
There are five State constituencies in Sibu. Traditionally, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Bawang Assan and Pelawan were allocated to SUPP while Nangka, to PBB. — DayakDaily
