PBDSB to contest in 17 Dayak-majority seats this GE14
KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru ( PBDSB) will contest in at least 17 seats in the coming 14th general election, which are all Dayak majority areas.
The seats are Puncak Borneo, Mas Gading, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Lubok Antu, Bintulu, Limbang, Lawas, Mukah, Baram, Kapit, Hulu Rajang, Selangau, Julau, Saratok and Kanowit.
Its president, Cobbold John Lusoi, told a press conference here yesterday that all the candidates had been identified but their identity would be announced before Gawai.
“The candidates, two of them women, have been identified and their names will be announced at a suitable date before Gawai.
“We will go it alone in this election because Pakatan Rakyat ( PR) has refused to work with us,” he told the press conference, adding that they too would not work with State Reform Party (STAR).
The press conference was also held to announce the candidate for Selangau, Mengga Mikui, who, according to Cobbold had resigned from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on May 8.
Mengga, is also former president of Sarawak Dayak National Union ( SDNU) and Dayak National Congress (DNC).
The party had earlier announced that Rapelson Richard Hamit would contest in Puncak Borneo. He was also present at the press conference.
The party’s treasurer general and information chief Bobby William was also present.
Cobbold said the party had screened all the candidates, among them lawyers and other professionals, businessmen and a former soldier to contest under the party’s banner.
“A lawyer will be fielded in Limbang while a former soldier will be fielded in Kapit.”
He said among the issues to be raised during the election campaign are Native Customary Land ( NCR), Dayakism and issues affecting Sarawakians as a whole.
The candidates, two of them women, have been identified and their names will be announced at a suitable date before Gawai. Cobbold John Lusoi, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru president