SIBU: The potential candidates for the Sibu and Lanang parliamentary seats in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15) are still under consideration.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) told reporters this after officiating at a joint installation ceremony of SUPP Bawang Assan and Pelawan Branches and Ngiling Bidai 2022 today.
According to Dr Sim, he has discussed the matter with the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“This morning before coming here, I checked the parliamentary liaison committee for Lanang, and then I will be coming here again, to check on the committee for Sibu.
“We have discussed with the Premier several times and he has asked us to start preparing for it (GE15),” he said.
Asked to elaborate on the choice of candidates for the election, Dr Sim explained that the branches would nominate someone first and then the party would assess and come out with one (candidate).
“ … because there can only be one GPS candidate,” he said.
Meanwhile, SUPP Pelawan branch chairman, Clarence Ting Ing Horh emphasised it was crucial for SUPP to win both parliamentary constituencies in Sibu in the next general election.
“You think about all the schools and all the problem you have, you think about the bomba and all the issues with the police, all the issues with the hospitals, all the issues with JKR road, why are there so many issues, it’s because all these 10 years we don’t have MPs from GPS in Sibu.”
Hence, Ting urged everyone especially voters in Bawang Assan to vote for GPS candidates during GE15 otherwise all the issues would remain the same for the next five years.
“That is why SUPP together with our component parties Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) need to work together and win this thing (GE15 seat) this time and hope that from there the MP will solve the issues,” he said.
For the record, Sibu District comprises two parliamentary seats – Lanang and Sibu constituencies.
Both are Chinese-majority seats with Iban and Malay-Melanau making up the remainder of the population.
The seat for Sibu has been won by DAP since 2010 and the current MP was Oscar Ling Chai Yew meanwhile the Lanang seat has been won by DAP since 2013 by Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (current MP).
