KUCHING, Feb 18: Amidst rumours that he is to be dropped from nomination for the coming general election, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he has not seen anybody with potential in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) to take over the helm as Santubong Member of Parliament.
He told reporters that he has been around for a long time in Santubong, and whoever PBB would nominate would have too big a pair of shoes to fill if he or she were to continue his legacy.
“We are not just talking about winning, but how big the margin is. If you look at the 2013 general election, I garnered 91 per cent votes from Pantai Damai state constituency alone. Meaning only nine per cent there were against me.
“Meaning my performance has increased from 1999 (under the previous MP) when it (the seat) was almost lost to the opposition. So remember, I built it up and in the 2013 general election I got it back with 91 per cent votes (from Pantai Damai). Meaning I am the troubleshooter for that area.
“Check 1999 (general election) who (almost) lost. Don’t ask me. That is why I was sent here to troubleshoot Santubong, to make it white again,” Wan Junaidi said after opening the new Kampung Goebilt Community Hall here earlier today.
During the 1999 general election, Datuk Seri Rohani Karim (PBB) defended the Santubong seat with a slim majority of 1,895 against Husaini Hamdan (PKR).
When Wan Junaidi was nominated for the seat in the 2004 general election, he managed to gain a 10,560 majority against independent candidate Idris Bohari.
Since then until the 2013 general election where there was a four-cornered fight, Wan Junaidi’s majority has steadily increased.
Nonetheless, today he said he would continue to support whatever the decision made by the party’s leadership.
“We just wait until the nomination comes. If my name is not in, then it’s not in. Doesn’t matter. I have been around long enough, but somebody (new) coming in will have to fill very big shoes to perform as how I did.
“I’m a party member. We in PBB will never rebel. I will support whatever the decision by the party leadership,” he said.
In a report by an online news portal earlier this morning, it was said PBB would be dropping five incumbents for the coming general election.
They were named as Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (Betong), Tan Sri Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah (Mukah), Datuk Seri James Dawos Mamit (Puncak Borneo), Datuk Ahmad Lai Bujang (Sibuti) and Wan Junaidi (Santubong).
While Uggah was said to have openly acknowledge that he might not be defending Betong, the report said PBB would be nominating Datuk Hanifah Taib for Mukah, while candidates for other parliamentary seats remained unknown.
During the function earlier though, Wan Junaidi mentioned Datuk Wan Hamzah Wan Paie’s name several times, saying that should the people of Santubong require assistance to write request letters, he will brief Wan Hamzah on what to do.
Wan Hamzah is Wan Junaidi’s political secretary and PBB Youth information chief. — DayakDaily
