By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 5: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak is targeting a minimum of four State seats in the upcoming Sarawak election, with Beting Maro confirmed as one of its intended battlegrounds while three other seats remain under wraps.
PAS Sarawak commissioner Mohammad Arifiriazul Paijo, better known as Arif Paijo, said the four-seat figure announced by his deputy Rashidi Halun during the PAS Muktamar held in Kota Bharu, Kelantan yesterday (Sept 4) was not the party’s final number, but its minimum target.
“Oh, it is not yet final. It is still far. Our stand is still consistent: we aim for eight but at least four,” he told DayakDaily today when asked whether four seats was the final number.
Rashidi had said PAS Sarawak intended to contest at least four seats in the coming State election, with the current term of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly set to expire in February 2027.
Arif Paijo had previously revealed that Beting Maro would be among the seats PAS Sarawak plans to contest.
Asked to disclose the other three seats, he remained tight-lipped but gave three broad clues: one in the Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency, another in Batang Lupar and one in northern Sarawak.
“Still a secret. What is certain is one in the Petra Jaya area, Batang Lupar, and one in the north,” he said.
Arif Paijo said PAS Sarawak would hold a meeting next week to discuss the matter, followed by an official announcement on the seats.
His latest disclosure is consistent with a hint he gave reporters on March 7, when he said the other three seats being targeted would be constituencies PAS had contested in previous State elections.
PAS has contested Sarawak State seats since 2001 but has yet to win one.
In the 2011 State election, the party fielded candidates in five constituencies: Tanjong Datu, Muara Tuang, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau and Beting Maro.
PAS expanded its presence in the 2016 election, contesting 11 seats, namely Samariang, Pantai Damai, Muara Tuang, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Beting Maro, Kakus, Jepak, Samalaju, Lambir and Pujut.
The party scaled back to a single contest in the 2021 State election, with Arif Paijo contesting Beting Maro. He secured 2,058 votes but lost to incumbent Razaili Gapor (GPS-PBB), who retained the seat with 3,769 votes.
PAS Sarawak currently has about 8,000 to 10,000 members Statewide, including more than 1,000 under Dewan Himpunan Pendukung PAS (DHPP).
The party has established 11 divisions across Sarawak: Petra Jaya, Santubong, Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Mukah, Sibu, Bintulu, Sibuti, Miri and Limbang. — DayakDaily
