Nanta: All parties have right to nominate candidates for polls

KAPIT: Anyone, including those from the opposition, is free to contest in the elections, given that the country practises the democratic system.

In this regard, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi respects the recent decision by the state Democratic Action Party ( DAP) to field Paren Nyawi as its candidate for Kapit in the next parliamentary polls.

“That is alright – those eyeing to stand as an election candidate can certainly do so. I respect the decision by DAP and its candidate Paren in wishing to contest in Kapit,” Nanta, who is incumbent Kapit MP, told The Borneo Post recently.

Adding on, he said: “Should I be renominated by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB), I will stand to defend the seat. I’ve started many infrastructure and development projects in this ‘ kawasan’ (area) and I’d like to see them through. So it’s up to the people to decide whom they would choose as MP in the election.

“On my part, I appeal to the people to continue voting for BN ( Barisan Nasional) based on what has been done for Kapit over the past six, seven years.”

Nanta pointed out that the majority of the sections along Jalan Kapit- Song- Kanowit had reached completion.

“On top of that, we are also building access roads to areas like Merit under the Armed Forces’ ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme, and also the one ( project) across the river from Song down to Kanowit (Sibu side), which is already approved – from Beguang to Nanga Tada. All this is happening because we have planned it, and we are doing it.”

In this regard, Nanta expressed his dismay over what the DAP had alleged on social media, drumming up the Kapit folk ‘don’t have this, don’t have that’.

“I noticed this. They ( DAP) only know how to criticise the government, but we have started to do things – some are completed, others still on-going.

“Why BN has been winning all this while is because we work for the people,” he said.