By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 28: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) is eyeing to contest in seven seats in the coming 15th General Election (GE15) using the Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) logo except for the Mas Gading constituency.
PBK president Voon Lee Shan said the candidates for the six seats have more or less been identified, except for one rural seat, which he refused to reveal due to some uncertainty.
The six confirmed seats are Stampin, Bandar Kuching, Mas Gading, Puncak Borneo, Lanang, and Bintulu.
“For Mas Gading, the candidate will be Sim Min Leong (social activist and businessman) using the PBK logo. This was decided before PBK even teamed up with PSB and Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), as he has been campaigning using the PBK logo for years.
“So it is only right for him to continue with it as we do not want to create confusion among voters,” he told a press conference at his legal firm in Saradise today.
The seats which the candidates have not been decided on are the hot Stampin and Bandar Kuching seats but the potentials named are Voon himself, mechanical engineer Patrick Teo, and computer engineer Lue Cheng Hing.
As for Puncak Borneo, the candidate identified is businessman Tomson Ango, Lanang is PBK secretary-general and Priscilla Lau who is a lawyer by profession, and Bintulu is Leighton Manja.
PBK will also have a joint manifesto with PSB, which will be revealed in due time.
On the outlook of the PBK-PSB-PBDS team in GE15, Voon emphasised a rise of public confidence in the new local Opposition coalition as people are sick and tired of ‘recycled’ politics.
“Based on the sentiments gathered on the ground since the dissolution of Parliament, we learned that the public prefers local Opposition parties, who they want to see join forces.
“Another reason is because of DAP (Democratic Action Party). People don’t want DAP or PH (Pakatan Harapan) to represent Sarawak anymore after all the failed and unfulfilled promises, including the 20 per cent oil royalty, 50 per cent return of tax revenue, and the RM2,000 for every Sarawakian,” he said.
Secondly, Voon added that the people are also concerned about the stand of DAP and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) regarding their alliance towards Umno and Pas after both have indicated the possibility of working together.
“So, the public’s views are that both GPS and DAP are more concerned about power rather than looking after the needs of the people and country. As such, people want local Opposition political alliances to represent their voice in Parliament,” he said. — DayakDaily
