By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 20: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will most likely field new faces in the semi-urban constituencies, which will make up about 20 per cent of the 47 seats the party will be contesting in during the 12th Sarawak Election.
PBB vice president Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that it is important to identify and groom young future leaders among the youths, including the women, in line with the party’s continuing leadership renewal process to ensure the continuation of its legacy of excellence as the backbone of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“We want to get more young vibrant leaders (as we also take into consideration the implementation of) Undi18 and what is going around us (the change in political scene). We have to also change.
“There will definitely be some from the youth and women’s wing with quite a number of them in their 30s,” he told reporters when asked about the line-up of new faces after the PBB Supreme Council Meeting held at the party’s headquarters last night.
Abdul Karim, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, pointed out that any move to not re-nominate incumbents would not be a reflection of their service in the constituency.
“There are some who have openly announced that they will not be contesting. We really appreciate that, but of course there will be some that we have to replace, not because they are not good.
“Personally, I see that they will still win if we field them but circumstances require them to be replaced by new candidates for the sake of the party and that of Sarawak,” he said.
Recently, three incumbents from PBB – Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais in Gedong, Datuk Ambrose Blikau Enturan (Katibas) and Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz (Kalaka) – had announced their decisions not to seek reelection in the coming polls.
On women’s representation in politics, the Asajaya incumbent added that the party will make sure the number of women representing PBB will not decrease, with four women holding seats presently.
“Well, it is not easy to get woman candidates as they are more family-oriented but we will groom those who would want to sacrifice themselves to contribute to society and serve the people,” he said.
The four PBB women incumbents are Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah in Dalat, Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu (Tanjung Datu), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (Samariang), Datuk Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Simoi Peri (Lingga). — DayakDaily
