By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Jan 9: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) secretary-general Datuk Nelson Balang Rining believes that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)’s policy of power-sharing and consensus will allow his party to contest in all its eight traditional seats in the next state election.
“GPS is supposed to be a family, and it should talk (on seat allocation) like a family matter (based) on sharing and consensus,” Balang told reporters after the launching of the GPS logo at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here yesterday.
PDP has demanded that its three seats that have been absorbed by fellow GPS component party PBB, namely Batu Danau, Bekenu and Pakan, be returned.
Recently, during PDP media night, a senior PDP leader who preferred to remain anonymous said the party had identified candidates for these three seats, which is currently held by Paulus Palu Gumbang in Batu Danau, Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (Pakan) respectively.
PDP currently has only three assemblymen, namely Dato Henry Jinep in Tasik Biru, Datu Dr Penguang Manggil (Marudi) and Roland Duat (Meluan).
Two of PDP’s seats are currently held under Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), namely Ba Kelalan (by Works Minister Baru Bian) and Krian (by Ali Biju).
On the GPS logo, Balang, who is a former Ba’ Kelalan assemblyman, said it would definitely strengthen the four component parties in GPS.
“Definitely, it will strengthen Sarawakian parties,” he said. — DayakDaily
