KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, will decide on winnable candidates for the party in the upcoming state election.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the views of party members will also be taken in consideration.
Asked on the criteria for selection, Uggah said, “We leave it to the wisdom of our party president.”
During an exclusive interview at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia here, he said that the loss of just one seat during the last general election had been an unexpected and great blow to PBB. The party, which was then under Barisan Nasional (BN) lost in Puncak Borneo when its candidate, Genot Sinel was defeated by Willie Mongin of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Willie later quit PKR to support Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“We learn from that in terms of candidate selection. That is why it is very important that the right candidate is chosen to represent certain areas,” Uggah said.
In addition, he said that once a candidate was selected, all party members must give their full support. “Forget about whatever happened before the selection of the candidate,” he advised.
Uggah said that they had a lot to tell the people and could show them what they had achieved and planned, such as the chief minister’s post Covid-19 socio-economic development plan which was already on the table.
“Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and PBB – we do not just promise, we have implemented the projects. For 2020, we have the budget ready for the projects.
“Meanwhile, other parties only make promises – saying that if they win, they will give such-and-such. They know that they cannot win, that is why they make all sorts of promises,” he said, adding that this was the difference between GPS and the opposition.
