By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Sept 2: With the Sarawak state election due to be held by 2021, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu is looking forward to strenghening the party’s position in the state.
However, seat allocations have yet to be discussed between the various Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties.
Mohamad, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu, revealed this when met by local media on Sunday night after delivering his opening remarks at a PH dinner at a leading hotel in Miri.
“Yes, Amanah definitely will be contesting in Sarawak’s election,” disclosed Mohamad who is also the Minister of Defence.
He said Amanah and its PH allies will hold a discussion on seats that will be contested in the coming Sarawak election.
“Because we (Amamah) are now with PH, so we are offering our party to contest in this coming state election,” he said.
Mohamad, however, refused to give further details when asked by media about seat allocations and which constituencies Amanah will contest in.
“I can’t reveal the details to all of you yet, because the coalition parties (Amanah, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Democratic Action Party and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) need to meet and discuss the seat allocations,” he said.
He added, since the 14th General Election held in 2018, Malaysia politics has undergone tremendous change.
“The country is transforming, ever since the 14th GE, and PH has made changes in the system for the benefit of the rakyat. Therefore, Miri, particulary Sarawak, must give their undivided support to us (PH) if they want to see big changes,” he said.
During a visit to Sarawak in September last year, Amanah deputy president Datuk Salahuddin Ayub was reported as saying the party was eyeing 13 seats in the next state elections.
Meanwhile, Mohamad stressed that as Defence Minister, he will do his best to defend Sarawak from issues such as racism and religious fanaticism.
“We do not want these issues to meddle in Sarawak, unlike in Peninsular Malaysia…. these issues have been widely used to instigate people,” he said.
“Do not ever ‘import’ racism to Sarawak, ….learn from what had happened during 13th May 1969.”
Also present at the dinner were Minister of Transport Anthony Loke, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen, Senator Alan Ling, Saratok MP Ali Biju, Bilut assemblyman Lee Chin Chen, Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon, Democratic Action Party Long Lama protem chairman Marcus Hugo and Sibuti Parti KeadilaN Rakyat Women’s chief Zulhaidah Suboh. — DayakDaily
