SRI AMAN, April 29: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) is only contesting in one seat in this general election to give way to Pakatan Harapan (PH) to allow straight fights in Dayak-majority areas.
PBDSB in a statement today said that the party had decide to give way in other seats to PH for the sake of Dayak unity and to field only one candidate, its president Cobbold John Lusoi in Sri Aman.
“PBDSB had decided to give way in other seats to PH, to have their straight fight as per their extreme relentless demand in the past weeks.
“PBDSB is doing so, for the sake Dayak unity spirit and also for those Dayak members in PH.”
The statement also pointed out that this was also done to avoid implications and accusations of PBDSB being a “BN agent” to split opposition votes in this 14th General Election (GE14).
As a small local “peasant” party, the party expressed its respect for the Dayaks in PH and its ultimate aim to be the alternative for Barisan Nasional (BN).
However, since the party was the first to announce its intention to contest in Sri Aman, PBDSB insisted that its president Cobold John would continue to stand as a candidate for the seat.
“We appeal to all Sri Aman Dayak to support our president and our intention to be the voice for Dayak in Parliament and to lead young future generations of Dayak in Sarawak.
“It’s time for the Dayak to make their own stand and earn recognition as Malaysian.
“We believe that he (referring to Cobbold) can deliver the seat for the party, even though PBDSB only contests in a single seat, it shall not break our spirit to do the very best we can to focus and concentrate all of our resources to win Sri Aman,” said the party in a statement.
Cobbold, 56, is an oil palm small holder and social rights activist.
He is a Dayak Iban and a local from Sri Aman who holds a Master in Business Administration (USA) and has more than 26 years’ experience as an activist.
He contested six times before this GE and this is the seventh time he is standing as a candidate. — DayakDaily
