KUCHING: There is no official announcement yet but voters in Mambong can expect Datuk Dr Jerip Susil to be renominated to defend the seat in the coming 12th state election.
This is based on the groundswell of support for Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) main component Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) in the area.
In addition, Dr Jerip, who is now with PBB, has been credited with working hard to bring development to the area.
Most villages in the constituency including those once considered as far flung at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border such as Kampung Sapit and Kiding, to name a few, are now connected by roads.
Mambong, formerly Bengoh, is one of the three state constituencies under the Puncak Borneo parliamentary seat. Two others are Tarat and Serumbu.
Datuk Roland Sagah is the incumbent for Tarat while Miro Simuh is the incumbent for Serumbu. Both are also from PBB.
The Puncak Borneo parliamentary seat is held by Datuk Willie Mongin of Bersatu.
Willie once contested against Dr Jerip in the Mambong seat (then Bengoh) but this time around, he is not contesting and instead throwing his support behind whoever GPS decides to field in the seat.
Sources close to PBB Mambong cautioned the GPS leadership to tread carefully in naming the candidate for Mambong.
“We don’t want a repeat of the outcome of the parliamentary election in Puncak Borneo during the 14th general election. BN could have won the seat if not for the candidate not being a favourite among BN members and supporters.
“This time, however, it’s not just about candidate but also the party. Dr Jerip has proven himself for the seat and should be renominated to defend it.”
According to the source, Dr Jerip decided to quit Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and joined PBB partly due to the strong rapport of PBB with the people in the seat.
“Of course, other factors include the fact that only through PBB, which is part of the ruling administration, can Dr Jerip bring in more development to the constituency.”
Mambong has been included as among the 47 seats PBB will be contesting in the coming state election.
