By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 8: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing today revealed that the initial agreement between GPS and Bersatu was for Datuk Ali Biju to give up N39 Krian and then contest in P205 Saratok under PDP.
Tiong finally spoke out on the tension between Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) who were good allies in the last 12th Sarawak Election but are now colliding head-on for P205 Saratok and three other seats ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15).
PDP is one of four component parties under the GPS coalition alongside Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
“I would like to explain that the political cooperation between PDP and Bersatu for GE15 is based on the strategy when facing the previous Sarawak State Election, where the Krian seat was given to the PDP while the Saratok seat was given to Datuk Ali Biju to contest under the PDP.
“The proposed cooperation to face GE15 this time received a positive response from Ali Biju, who even put on a PDP shirt in front of a large audience.
“However, he changed his stance after returning from Kuala Lumpur. His position remains not to be with the PDP despite attempts to negotiate.
“I understand that he received advice from his party leaders to reject the proposal as an attempt to overthrow the PDP,” he said in a statement today.
Tiong who is incumbent and GPS candidate for P217 Bintulu, further explained that not only was the initial proposal was overturned but the other side suggested a new condition that is to appoint Ali as a Deputy Minister candidate if he wins in GE15.
“I told him that I could not accept the terms of the Deputy Minister post as requested.
“As a political figure and as a representative of the people, the main duty is to serve the people, and one should not put personal interests above the interests of the people.
“Just because he was not offered the Deputy Minister post if he wins GE15, the leader of Bersatu acted to betray the political cooperation with GPS when he contested using his own symbol,” he pointed out.
Tiong also described such act as clear proof that Bersatu leaders “only care about themselves rather than the interests of the people”.
Thus, he called on the election machinery and grassroot leadership to continue moving forward to approach voters and spread the offer of PDP and GPS to continue fighting for the people’s fate and to develop Sarawak, especially Bintulu.
Earlier today, news portal FreeMalaysiaToday reported that Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has denied reneging on a promise made to GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg that the Perikatan Nasional coalition (chaired by Muhyiddin) would not contest in Sarawak.
He claimed that there was only an agreement that Bersatu would not contest in the previous State election, not the federal election.
Muhyiddin also said that Perikatan Nasional needed to contest in P203 Lubok Antu and P217 Bintulu as P198 Puncak Borneo incumbent Willie Mongin had left Bersatu for PBB.
On Nov 1, Perikatan Nasional announced that it would contest four seats in Sarawak namely P201 Batang Lupar, P203 Lubok Antu, P205 Saratok and P217 Bintulu. — DayakDaily
