Commentary
By Lian Cheng
Following Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah’s announcement that there will be 30 per cent new faces fielded by PBB in the 15th General Election (GE15), speculations have been rife over who will be entrusted to fly the flag and who are the unfortunate few left off the bus.
Without naming anyone, Abdul Karim hinted that age and education were the two main factors when deciding candidacy is concerned for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and PBB.
As one of four GPS component parties and the largest, PBB traditionally contests in 14 federal seats namely Santubong, Petra Jaya, Kota Samarahan, Puncak Borneo, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Betong, Tanjong Manis, Igan, Mukah, Kapit, Sibuti, Limbang and Lawas.
Based on Abdul Karim’s “30 per cent new faces” theory, perhaps it would not be far off to conclude there will be at least four new faces among the 14 candidates.
It is logical to conclude that one of the new faces will be PBB’s latest high profile recruit, incumbent Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin or it would have been pointless for PBB to take him in at the 11th hour if not to absorb him to defend the seat.
Since age is said to be a main factor in determining candidacy, perhaps then it would also be quite natural to believe the rumours that incumbent Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, 77, and incumbent Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, 76, may not return to defend their seats.
The question now is, as the caretaker Law Minister, Wan Junaidi had proved himself to be a great asset for GPS which is now trying to regain all its lost rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) Report. It was during Wan Junaidi’s time as Law Minister that several amendments were made including Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution which has successfully restored to Sarawak rights which are due to her under MA63.
In fact, this is not the first time that Wan Junaidi’s name is said to be left off the candidate list. For the last 15 years, the detractors and speculators have been proven wrong. So for GE15, let us wait and see if he still has that magic touch.
Similarly for Henry Sum who is a three-term MP, rumours are rife that he may be replaced by a new face due to his advanced age. Replacing this MP with a younger candidate, however, involves an extra step — the approval of PBB Northern Region chief Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. PBB which operates based on party-first and party consensus will cross that bridge soon with regards to Henry Sum’s candidacy.
While Wan Junaidi’s and Henry Sum’s survival are still hanging in the balance, party insiders said the fate of incumbent Batang Lupar MP Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, 67, is sealed and a number of young and qualified potential candidates are already queueing up to take over.
If Rohani were to retire this year, she will exit as a seven-term MP. Rohani was MP for three terms in Santubong from 1990 to 2004 and four terms in Batang Lupar from 2004 to 2022. This means 35 years of service for PBB, and her constituents, not to mention her years of service as a full minister. Her graceful and gentle approach will be difficult to replicate and replace.
While many politicians tend to outstay their welcome as people’s representatives, incumbent Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat has long been rumoured to prefer to stay behind the scenes to support PBB.
Following speculation that he may not be fielded, the name of political secretary to Premier, Dr Richard Rapu has cropped up as a successor. These rumours are not baseless as whenever PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas appears in functions within Betong constituency, Rapu is always by his side. Of course, Lawson as a responsible MP, would also be present on Uggah’s other side.
Should Lawson insist on retiring from politics, it is believed that there will be a smooth transition from the incumbent to his successor, for which Uggah should be given the credit.
On rumours that Igan MP Ahmad Johnie Zawawi and Mukah MP Dato Hanifah Taib may be dropped due to not meeting expectations, party insiders say that as they are first-term MPs, they will be given another chance as PBB’s usual practice is to let their elected representatives to work for two terms to prove themselves before any action will be taken.
Assuming that if between Wan Junaidi and Henry Sum, one of them is dropped; with Rohani and Lawson giving way to new faces and Willie being the new recruit to defend Puncak Borneo, it means four new faces for PBB. This would fit in nicely with Abdul Karim’s earlier disclosure of 30 per cent new faces from PBB. — DayakDaily
