SIBU: State Barisan Nasional leaders are echoing the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent statement that there is a fighting chance for BN to wrest two opposition strongholds - Sibu and Lanang - this parliamentary election if Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and United People’s Party (UPP) could close ranks and work out an amicable solution to their apparent division before the 14th General Election (GE14).
The Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sport Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told TheBorneoPost that in order to win any seat or win any election, the party contesting must be able to maintain and secure unity of its members and supporters.
“I fully agree that to win Sibu and Lanang, BN parties SUPP, PBB, PRS and PDP as well as parties linked to BN like UPP in those seats must be able to unite their members and supporters and make sure they support the BN’s candidates.”
Meanwhile the State BN secretary-general Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi said this is crucial to enable BN to wrest the opposition’s strongholds of Sibu and Lanang.
“I agree with CM, provided SUPP and UPP are willing to settle their differences and work together to recapture the seats,” said Dr Rundi, who is Minister of Utilities.
In GE13, DAP fielded a new face, pharmacist Oscar Ling Chai Yew, for Sibu parliamentary seat, who garnered 26,808 votes to edge his closest rival Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau who polled 23,967 votes, while Independent Narawi Haron got 203 votes in a three-cornered fight.
In Lanang, Alice Lau polled 26,613 votes to defeat former five-term Lanang MP Datuk Tiong Thai King, who secured 17,983 votes.
Former Meradong District Council councillor Datuk Felician Teo suggested that the BN leadership quickly allocate the urban seats between the two parties to put an end to the current claims and counterclaims for these seats and allow the respective parties to focus on the election.
“The current scenario regarding winning back the urban seats like Lanang and Sibu is quite a daunting one given that BN not only has to content with the opposition front but also the on-going tussle for seats between SUPP and UPP. It will be an extremely tall order for SUPP and UPP to bury the hatchet after so long.
“While UPP can be said to be speaking with one united voice, the same cannot be said about SUPP.
“While SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian can be seen as a compromising and inclusive leader, the Central Working Committee today comprised nominees of the previous leadership, with one or two ex leaders still wielding influence from behind the scenes. Hence, Dr Sim’s hands are somewhat tied when it comes to negotiation with UPP,” said Teo.
He added: “The next best scenario for BN to have a fighting chance in Lanang and Sibu is for the BN leadership to quickly allocate the urban seats between the two parties.
“Once this is done, both parties must move on to support the BN leadership’s decision.
“It goes without saying that if the seats are given to UPP, the precedence of fielding BN direct candidates can again be followed given that UPP is not a component member.”
Teo felt that once the seats are settled, the respective parties can move on to candidate selection.
“If the candidate is announced sooner rather than later, the lobbying will cease and the focus can immediately be shifted to fighting the election.
“Undoubtedly, this tussle between UPP and SUPP for the seats will have a significant bearing on the outcome of the election. The sooner some of these issues are settled, the better the chances are for BN to prevail over the opposition in the upcoming general election,” he reiterated. -@ybkarimsays
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