By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 13: Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi has indicated that he will not defend his Kapit parliamentary seat in the next general election (GE16), bringing his nearly 30-year tenure as a Member of Parliament to an end.
Nanta, who has served five terms as the Kapit MP, said he had made a final decision to step down from Parliament but would remain active in politics through a different platform.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general said he intends to contest a new Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) seat within the Kapit parliamentary constituency, if the proposed seat is gazetted in time for the upcoming Sarawak election.
“Actually, I have been quite firm in my decision to give up this parliamentary seat. I am not retiring from politics but may continue my political struggle through another avenue and no longer as an MP.
“I have been an MP for almost 30 years and have held various positions, including Deputy Minister in the Rural Development Ministry, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, and now Works Minister.
“I feel it is time to give the younger generation an opportunity in Parliament,” he told Berita Harian on Wednesday (Aug 12).
Nanta said he was interested in contesting the proposed new DUNS seat of Melekun, which would be located within the Kapit parliamentary constituency.
However, he said the proposed seat would first have to be confirmed by the Election Commission (EC), which is expected to conduct a public display exercise before making an announcement.
“If there is a new DUNS seat in the Kapit parliamentary constituency, I have already expressed my intention to contest there,” he said.
Nanta’s potential candidacy in the Sarawak election has yet to be discussed by the GPS leadership.
GPS chairman and Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had previously said that Nanta’s candidacy in the State election had not been discussed by the party’s top leadership.
Nanta said he believed it was now time for him to focus on development at the State level, particularly in Kapit, even if he no longer held a parliamentary position. — DayakDaily
