By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Dec 19: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)’s landslide victory in the just concluded 12th Sarawak Election yesterday shows that it has kept the Rakyat’s trust and confidence to lead Sarawak towards becoming a more prosperous State.
In stating this today, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew said, the strong mandate is a clear message that the rakyat still supports the ruling government and put their trust in GPS and its component parties lead by GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“With this strong mandate, it allows the ruling party to continue with government policies that would benefit the people of Sarawak,” Ting pointed out, adding it was a historical moment for GPS and Sarawakians as a whole.
The 12th Sarawak Election marked GPS’s debut, after it separated from Barisan Nasional (BN) back in 2018.
GPS, which consists of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), SUPP, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) secured 76 out of the 82 seats on Saturday (Dec 18).
Meanwhile, the opposition took a severe beating at the polls with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) led by its president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh only winning four seats while the Democratic Action Party (DAP) had its seven seats reduced to only two.
Ting who is also the Piasau assemblyman thanked his voters for their support and faith.
“You (voters) gave me another five years to be with you and for you. My team and I will give our best to you and the people of Miri,” he assured.
Ting who has held the Piasau seat since 2016, attributed GPS’s landslide win yesterday to coalition chairman Abang Johari’s great leadership.
He added, the victory is important to show the federal government that Sarawakians are standing strong behind Abang Johari.
On SUPP’s success in capturing the Pujut seat from Democratic Action Party (DAP) via debutant Adam Yii who is also SUPP’s Publicity and Information chief, Ting said the win showed constituents’ support was shifting back to the party.
“Yii’s victory in wresting back the seat (Pujut) would give three of us (Ting ,Yii and Senadin assemblyman Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin) the opportunity to develop Miri and its surrounding areas.
“We will discuss more on how we implement development projects so that Miri will benefit….let’s make Miri a better place,” he added.
In yesterday’s election, Ting retained Piasau seat with a massive majority of 4,988 votes.
He pulled in a total of 6,790 votes, defeating Peter Hee of DAP (1,802 votes), Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Teo Jia Jun (816), Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Devora Chung Siew Yen (665) and Hanim Jaraiee from Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (121).
In the 2016 Sarawak Election, Ting won Piasau seat, defeating DAP’s Alan Ling with a majority of 2,112 votes in a straight fight.
Ting garnered a total of 7,799 votes while Ling received 5,687 votes. — DayakDaily
