KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is not putting up any ‘spare candidates’ for its six seats because it is confident the top BN leadership will accept its nominated candidates for six parliamentary seats in the upcoming general election.
Its president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said the confidence was based on the party’s strength and the fact that it was not facing any internal conflict.
“We are sending one name for each of our six seats,” Masing said when met at Kuching International Airport here yesterday.
With this latest disclosure, it would mean that the party would retain its five MPs and have a new face in Hulu Rajang.
The five MPs are Masir Kujat (Sri Aman), William Nyalau (Lubok Antu), Datuk Joseph Salang (Julau), Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (Kanowit) and Datuk Joseph Entulu (Selangau).
However, Masing had said on many occasions that Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo would be dropped and replaced by his private secretary Wilson Ugak Kumbong.
Abit has been Hulu Rajang MP since 1990 and the party has decided to drop him to give chance to a younger person.
When contacted yesterday Ugak said he had never lobbied for the seat but it was the party which nominated him. He was supposed to replace Abit on two occasions since 2004.
“In 2004, Datuk Billy announced that it would be his last term. In 2008, we had to inform him at the last minute that he would be the candidate,” said Ugak.
Since Masing’s announcement of the change of candidate for Hulu Rajang at Teluk Buing on July 4, support for him (Ugak) especially in Baleh, where the majority of the voters are Ibans has been solid.
Since that day, Ugak has been on the move in the constituency especially to Belaga to garner support from the Orang Ulu community.
According to a source, Ugak was the most winnable candidate for the constituency as he had been helping Abit as his director of operations since 1990.
He is also no stranger to the people of Belaga as his wife – Leyta Kupa – comes from the Kajang community in Punan Bah, not far downstream from Belaga.
In the last general election, Abit defeated Independent candidate George Lagong by a reduced majority of 2,164 votes compared to 3,666 in 2004.
sumber:theborneopost
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