KUCHING: The State Barisan Nasional (BN) is optimistic about winning the Pujut by-election, said Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari, who is also the state BN chairman, said the state BN is prepared for the by-election.
“We are ready as the Election Commission (EC) had set the Pujut by-election for 4 July and we will send our candidate whom we will decide later.
“And of course when you go in, we must win, otherwise if you think you’ll lose, then there’s no point of putting a candidate there,” he told the media after receiving courtesy calls from Chung Hua Primary and Secondary Schools Board of Management and other associations at his office at the State Legislative Assembly Complex, yesterday.
Abang Johari also said the state government would announce the BN candidate in June.
“We are still concentrating on the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting at the moment, perhaps after the Gawai celebration,” he said.
When asked if the new face would be from either Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) or United People’s Party (UPP), he said that was yet to be decided.
“I do not know from which party the candidate will be,” he added.
Pujut by-election is called for following the removal of State Assemblyman Dr. Ting Tiong Choon by the State Legislative Assembly on 12 May.
The EC had set 20 June, 2017 for the nomination of candidates for the Pujut by-election and 4 July for polling.
Meanwhile, SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said his party should be the one contesting for Pujut seat which is normally given to a BN component party.
“We have a few candidates in mind considering the preparations we are making for the next general election,” he said.
He said SUPP would not give up Pujut seat unless the BN leadership said otherwise.
“SUPP will not agree if BN decides for a similar arrangement during the state election in May 2016 where candidate from UPP contested as a direct candidate,” said Dr Sim.
