KUCHING: Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) has named three potential candidates for the state election in 2021.
They are Nicholas Mujah for Balai Ringin, Nikodemus Singgai for Gedong, and Rapelson Richard Hamit for Simunjan.
PBDSB president Cobbold John, who released these names yesterday (December 20), said his party is open to all Dayak Sarawakians regardless of their religions.
“We invite Dayaks who have clean track records – free from corruption and land scandal issues – including those from Pakatan Harapan and GPS, to join PBDSB,” he said.
“We believe that Dayaks must leave their comfort zones to bring PBDSB to a much greater height, in order to safeguard Dayak rights and Sarawak as a whole.”
Reiterating that the party does not belong to him alone, but to all Dayaks in Sarawak, he explained that the names of the potential candidates were released to further strengthen their claims on specific areas targeted by the party.
“These individuals are social and land rights activists who have been striving together for a long time. They have represented Dayaks in court concerning Dayak issues.
Rapelson, 32, holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree (Development Planning and Management Programme) from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). He contested in Gedong in the last state election against PBB’s Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais who received 4,064 votes.
This time around, Rapelson will give way to Nikodemus Singgai from Spaoh to contest in Gedong. Nikodemus, 39, who has a Diploma of Business Management, is a former Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) volunteer, a Dayak National Institute (Dani) volunteer and also active in other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as community activities.
On Mujah, Cobbold said although he is still in PKR, he believes he would join PBDSB.
“Why not? Mujah is a Dayak and there’s nothing wrong for him to join PBDSB and become its candidate. He doesn’t have to wait for his candidacy appointment letter from Putrajaya. We can select him directly as long as he has the criteria,” he said.
