By Karen Bong and Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 19: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will be contesting in 47 seats in the impending 12th Sarawak Election, which must be called before Jan 3, 2021.
The party called for a Supreme Council meeting tonight to discuss election preparation works in facing this much overdue State event.
For this upcoming election, PBB will introduce new faces as an effort of party rejuvenation to ensure the continuation of PBB legacy’s as the backbone party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), said PBB Secretary General Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi at the press conference after the meeting which was held at PBB headquarters here.
Chief Minister and PBB president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg chaired the meeting which was attended by the party’s top brass.
“We are not sure of how many new faces there will be yet but there will be new faces as seen in each election, as renewal of party leadership is part of the policy of PBB all this while.
“Percentage wise, it is more or less 10 to 20 per cent. I can’t reveal much now as we are still finalising (the candidates),” he said.
Commenting on incumbents who will not seek reelection, Nanta said the Supreme Council has accepted their decisions to withdraw willingly and make way for new candidates.
On a question whether there are other incumbents who have decided not to seek reelection other than Katibas incumbent Dato Sri Ambrose Blikau, Nanta revealed: “There are, like I mentioned just now there will be 10 to 20 per cent of new faces.”
“PBB has 47 seats so 10 to 20 per cent will make roughly five seats maybe,” he added.
Blikau, who had served the Katibas constituency for more than 40 years, had on Thursday (Nov 18) announced his retirement from politics on social media.
As commitment to ensure credibility and integrity of all PBB candidates, Nanta emphasised that all incumbents and potential candidates will be screened by the Insolvency Department, police and Election Commission (EC).
“This is to ensure that all candidates especially PBB have no problem including the new candidates and the screening process is still ongoing before we can confirm their candidacy,” he added. — DayakDaily
