PBDSB will not contest in Pujut by-election

KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) is staying away from the coming Pujut by-election.

Its president Cobbold John Lusoi said the party would not join in the race because there are not many Dayak voters in the constituency.

“We have made our study in the area, including the voters’ breakdown, and there are less than 10 per cent Dayak voters in Pujut.

“Let Barisan Nasional and Democratic Action Party (DAP) have a straight fight there,” he said.

Cobbold said PBDSB, being a Dayak-based political party, would only contest when Dayaks form the majority in the seats.

He believed that only Dayaks would understand PBDSB’s struggle, but not the Chinese in Pujut.

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed June 20 as nomination day and July 4 for polling in Pujut.

The by-election was called after its incumbent Dr Ting Tiong Choon was disqualified by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) during the last seating.

On May 12, Minister of International Trade and ECommerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh tabled a motion to disqualify Dr Ting over claims that he held Australian citizenship.

The motion received 70 support votes from Barisan Nasional representatives, while 10 Opposition lawmakers rejected it.

Malaysia does not allow its citizens to hold dual citizenship.

Dr Ting won the Pujut seat with a majority of 1,759 votes in a four-cornered fight in the May 2016 state election.

His opponents were Datuk Hii King Chiong who stood as a direct Barisan Nasional candidate, PAS’ Jofri Jaraie and former Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck who contested as an independent.