Serumbu rep not bothered by opposition’s pick for Puncak Borneo
KUCHING: Serumbu assemblyman Miro Simuh is not concerned about the candidate to be fielded by the opposition in Puncak Borneo in the 14th general election (GE14).
He said he was more concerned about the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate contesting for the seat.
“This is a democratic country and everyone is eligible to contest. I am more concerned about our BN candidate than the other group’s (opposition),” he said when met yesterday.
Miro was commenting on Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru), which has named Rapelson Richard Hamit as its potential candidate for Puncak Borneo.
Serumbu is one of two state seats under Puncak Borneo – the other is Mambong with Datuk Dr Jerip Susil as its assemblyman.
Political secretary to chief minister Edward Kurik also said he was not bothered by Rapelson’s candidacy, but he did ‘wish him the best’.
“Let him (Rapelson) try his luck in Puncak Borneo, if he thinks he has the support. He can try. He has tried his luck elsewhere and lost. Let him try his luck here (Puncak Borneo),” said Edward, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) supreme council member.
Rapelson contested in Gedong in the state polls last year and the Tanjong Datu by-election in February this year – on both occasions, he lost.
Edward, who is a registered voter in Puncak Borneo and hails from one of the villages there, said the arliamentary constituency would continue to be a BN stronghold.
“Puncak Borneo will remain that way (BN stronghold) due to the strong cooperation among the various BN component parties in the area,” he said, adding that whoever becomes the BN candidate in Puncak Borneo would get strong support from the component parties.
The incumbent MP Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos, who is Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, has decided to step down due to health reasons.
Dawos made the announcement in February at a luncheon with several village chiefs, where he also named his special officer Datuk Detta Samen as his potential replacement.