Sarawak PKR election: No contest in 13 divisions
KUCHING: The party election of Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Sarawak saw no contest in 13 divisions while three other divisional chairmen were returned uncontested.
PKR Sarawak chairman Baru Bian in a statement yesterday, said that PKR Sarawak has completed its nomination process for election of office bearers for all 29 divisions smoothly, over the weekend.
For election at the divisional level, Baru said all members were eligible to contest the posts of chairman, deputy chairman, vice chairman, together with 15 slots of committee members.
The positions for women and youth wings were opened for nominations and contest, he added.
Baru added that the nominations were carried out at three centres in Kuching, Sibu and Miri last Saturday.
“When the nominations closed at 5pm, there was no contest in 13 divisions, namely, Mas Gading, Kuching, Stampin, Mambong (now Puncak Borneo), Serian, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Saratok, Selangau, Mukah, Bintulu, Limbang and Lawas.
“There will be contest for a few positions in Miri, Sibuti and Baram, but the existing divisional chairmen of these divisions were returned unopposed,” said Baru, who is Selangau MP and Ba Kelalan assemblyman.
He also said there would be contest for the positions of chairman and numerous other posts in 13 divisions - Santubong, Petra Jaya, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Betong, Julau, Sarikei, Kanowit, Sibu, Lanang, Kapit and Hulu Rajang.
Baru said time was needed to verify the eligibility of the members taking part in the election, with voting scheduled on Oct 6.
“From the results of the nomination which has returned 16 divisional chairmen uncontested, it shows the confidence of the members towards the state leadership.
“It augurs well for PKR Sarawak as we have started our preparation for the coming Sarawak election. With the mandate from the majority of members, we can and are going ahead with our preparation.”
On a related matter, Baru expressed his support for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to lead the party as its president after the impending party election in November.
“Anwar has declared that he will contest the party presidency, and rightly so. PKR was born from his strong stand against injustice, and the party has grown stronger with the continuing leadership and the BN’s oppression against him (Anwar). He was denied a chance to contest in elections and was prevented from leading the party which he founded.
“Now that Pakatan Harapan, of which PKR is a coalition partner, is the federal government and Anwar has been fully pardoned, it is only right that he should be given the backing to helm the party. We support Anwar to be the next president of PKR so that it can grow in strength and unity.”