By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 12: Kapit MP and former Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi neither has the ambition nor the plan to contest in the next state election that is due in 2021.
But he did not rule out the possibility of contesting if his services are required.
“I would say that I have no such ambition, but as a loyal party man, I have to abide by the decision of the party’s top leadership. In my case, it depends very much on the leadership of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) of which I belong,” Nanta told DayakDaily here today.
He reiterated that in politics, a politician’s life is dictated not only by himself but also by the party’s leadership as well as circumstances.
“For now, we can’t tell. But because I’m a loyal party man, if the leadership wants me to do something, then I have to be open to that possibility for the good of the party and the people,” he explained.
Nanta, who is also PBB secretary-general, was asked whether he would consider the offer if given the opportunity to contest in the state polls. He was also asked about the possibility of being appointed to the State Cabinet for his loyalty to the party.
His meteoric rise at the federal level was abruptly cut short after the Barisan Nasional (BN) fell in the 14th General Election. Prior to the polls on May 9, he was speculated to be promoted to a full minister if BN retained Putrajaya.
On a related issue, Nanta believed that the development policies of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to spur development, especially in the rural areas, could still be achieved as Sarawak had its own reserves and allocations from the federal government.
“The development agenda to further develop the rural areas such as roads, electricity and water as announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would still be implemented as we have the means to do so.
“On top of that, the federal government also has the obligation to channel funds to Sarawak, as we are part of the federation, especially as agreed under the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Nanta, who is also GPS pro tem secretary-general, said all the necessary process had been done for the party to be registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
“To the best of my understanding and what we have been told, we have done all that needs to be done to get the party registered. So now we just have to wait for the registration,” he said.
GPS, which consisted of PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), was formed on June 12 after the shocking performance of BN in the May 9 general election. GPS subsequently applied to the ROS in early July to get the local alliance registered. — DayakDaily
