Pakatan Harapan grassroots against idea of ‘parachuting’ Baru for Miri seat in GE14

MIRI: The rumour about Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Sarawak chief Baru Bian to be fielded in Miri for the 14th general election (GE14) does not go down well with some Pakatan Harapan ( PH) grassroots.

According to one of them Yong Kin Choi, Miri is a crucial area and thus, he questions the rationale behind fielding a ‘parachute candidate’ in the form of Baru, whom he says ‘does not serve the locals here’.

“As Ba Kelalan assemblyman, Baru should be standing in Lawas. We don’t want a ‘parachute candidate’ for Miri,” he told The Borneo Post here, adding that there was dissatisfaction on the ground against the proposal by top PH leaders to field Baru for Miri in GE14.

Yong said feedback from voters in the Chinese-majority area did not favour Baru as a potential candidate, as there were many other ‘winnable’ local personalities.

“Say if Baru is fielded in Miri, it is like we’re handing the seat back to BN (Barisan Nasional) after the breakthrough we made in 2013.

“We want a winnable PH candidate and Baru is jumping here and there after losing to BN candidate Hasbi Habibollah in Limbang in the last parliamentary election.”

Another local PH grassroots leader who only wished to be known as Bunyau, said Baru would not be able to serve Mirian ‘ properly’, as he is based in Kuching and his state constituency is Ba Kelalan in Lawas.

“With such a busy schedule, I feel that he will not be able to serve us here.”

Bunyau added that Miri, being a predominantly- Chinese constituency, would need a candidate who is able to converse the language in order to better understand the needs of the people on the ground.

Sources within PKR Miri have indicated that incumbent parliamentarian Dr Michael Teo would not seek re- election, and that the party has yet to decide on a suitable candidate capable of retaining the seat.