By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 9: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is confident of winning a two-thirds majority of all the seats in the 12th Sarawak Election, says Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“If you are not confident, you would not go to a war. GPS has been prepared for a long time and I know the opponents are also doing the same.
“We are not just confident of winning a simple majority but a two-thirds majority. However, it does not reach the level of arrogance. We respect our opponents however small they are, even if they are new parties.
“Likewise, we also respect Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) that has those who have been with us (GPS) inside there but I don’t think that they are able to deliver the way we are able to deliver,” he told reporters at a press conference held at Baitulmakmur 2 building in Kuching today.
He further described PSB as a party that accepts anyone that has jumped from any political parties or a splinter group that is not in the same direction with GPS component parties namely, PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
“When birds of a feather start flocking together, we will never be able to get a very good party because everyone would have their own ideology on native customary right (NCR) land, environment, dissenting views on coastal road project and competition for the party presidency.
“For me, it is very difficult for us to put our hope on those sort of leaders to govern us,” he said.
Abdul Karim who is also Asajaya incumbent added that Peninsula-based parties may participate in the State polls but Sarawakians will be mature enough to vote for local-based parties.
“Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) has been contesting many times but the majority of them will lose their deposit.
“Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) can also contest here to disunite Sarawakians but I believe Sarawakians are matured voters and they will know what to do,” he said.
At the same time, Abdul Karim opined that the number of voters must be high in order to legitimise the government in any election.
“I would love to see the voter turn-up to be 70 to 80 per cent in the 12th Sarawak Election,” he said, adding that his constituency (Asajaya) has always recorded a voter turn-out of 75 per cent.
Asked on how GPS will encourage Sarawakians to turn-up for the voting process during the election, following their fear of being infected with Covid-19, Abdul Karim said the Election Commission (EC) has come up with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a safe polling process.
He also said Sarawak has its own immigration laws and those who wish to enter the State for the election would have to comply with the necessary SOPs.
“However, if they feel sick, then don’t come to Sarawak. They are not welcome because we do not want them to spread a Covid-19 variant from the Peninsula to Sarawakians,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
