By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 4: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is hoping to secure an outright victory in all 82 seats in the coming Sarawak election, as a strong mandate would provide encouragement for Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to continue leading Sarawak and advance the State’s development and the well-being of its people.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said such a victory was important to ensure Sarawak government’s plans and development initiatives could be implemented effectively and smoothly.
“An outright victory is important because it will provide encouragement and a strong mandate for our Premier to continue leading Sarawak. Ultimately, this is in the interest of the state’s development and the well-being of communities throughout Sarawak,” he told reporters after the PBB Supreme Council meeting at the party headquarters here today.
Awang Tengah said PBB’s election machinery was fully prepared, with only some aspects of its preparations requiring further fine-tuning.
PBB had contested 47 seats in the previous Sarawak election, and the party was now aiming to win all the seats it contested, with the broader ambition of helping GPS capture all 82 seats.
“PBB contested 47 seats in the previous election, and of course, we want to win all the seats we contest this time. If possible, we hope to win all 82 seats,” he said.
He also stressed that PBB and its GPS component parties did not limit their work to election periods, but maintained their engagement with the people throughout the year.
“Our work does not begin only during election periods. We are an institution that works every day, every week, every month and every year.
“Through difficult times and good times, we stand together with the people. We work alongside them, and not only when elections come around. That is what PBB and GPS are all about,” he said.
On his candidacy in Bukit Sari, Awang Tengah said the meeting had agreed to give the full mandate to GPS president Abang Johari to determine the candidates for both PBB and the coalition.
Meanwhile, PBB secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said preparations for the coming Sarawak election were among the key matters discussed during the Supreme Council meeting.
“Our preparations are already at a satisfactory stage. We have not been waiting until today’s meeting to begin preparing; the groundwork was carried out well in advance.
“Our preparations are at a very advanced stage because facing elections is nothing new to us. We have been through several elections before,” he said.
Nanta said the meeting also discussed the formal establishment of the various election committees, as outlined by GPS election operations director Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
On the 47 seats previously contested by PBB, he said the party would leave the decision to Abang Johari to determine. — DayakDaily
