Bumiputera support vital to win Stampin — Nancy
KUCHING: Support from the Bumiputera community will be the determining factor for Barisan Nasional (BN) to win back Stampin parliamentary constituency from the opposition in the coming 14th General Election, says Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Batu Kitang branch chairwoman Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
According to Nancy, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, the Bumiputera community makes up about 40 per cent and 39 per cent of the total voters in Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah respectively.
After the last delineation exercise, Stampin parliamentary constituency now consists of Batu Kitang, Batu Kawah and Kota Sentosa state constituencies.
In stressing the need for Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and PBB to work together, Nancy said the formula and strategy used during the last state election to win Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah will be used again to wrest Stampin from the opposition in the coming general election.
“We have already tried our formula during the state election. Of course I wouldn’t want to share with you how we did it but the formula we did during the state election really worked. We managed to get Batu Kawah and the new seat Batu Kitang. You combine (the majority) these two (constituencies) alone it is already close to getting there.
“I think with the right strategy, with the cooperation among all of us and with the proper arrangements that need to be effectively implemented down there, God willing, we are confident that we can take Stampin,” she told reporters after officiating at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event organised by PBB Batu Kitang branch at the compound of Darul Ehsan Mosque at Kampung Haji Baki, here yesterday.
Nancy, who is Batang Sadong MP, recalled that during the last state election, she had spoken to then Batu Kitang BN candidate Lo Khere Chiang on the need for him to work very hard for the people and work together with the local PBB election machinery.
“The spirit of working together, the cooperation among us is already almost 50 per cent to cover for your winning. True enough, actually he didn’t expect to win by that much and then the winning was really good for him and SUPP.”
She said it is crucial for BN in Sarawak to have a big victory in the 14th General Election, as it will show others how Sarawakians fare during the election because they trust their leaders, adding: “Our leaders are the ones who really help them out and we will make sure that Sarawak will prosper more through BN.”
As a testament of how the local PBB and SUPP leaders are working closely together, Nancy said the leaders of PBB and SUPP in Batu Kawah and Batu Kitang are in constant touch with each other such as through a WhatsApp group.
“I see what YB Lo and ( Batu Kawah assemblyman) Datuk Dr Sim (Kui Hian) are doing. For PBB here ( Batu Kitang), I don’t have to say much for them because they are always on the ground. SUPP is relying on PBB to assist them. Well, in the case of SUPP seats elsewhere or PBB seats elsewhere, the other BN component parties are helping each other.”
“The good and friendly spirit among the BN component parties is one of the major (strengths) among us. We don’t fight among each other, we encourage each other to work together so we share information, strategies to make sure all the component parties will win.
“Because we want to win big and not only that, we want to make sure, if possible, those who are already taken by the opposition before this, will be taken back by us ( BN).
“This is the BN spirit that needs to be strengthened and continued on, then only we can be a stronger party. When you’re strong in the state, this is where your voice will be heard at the federal level.”
Among those present at the event were the event organising chairman Abd Rahman Suhaili, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and PBB Batu Kawah branch chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim.
We have already tried our formula during the state election. Of course I wouldn’t want to share with you how we did it but the formula we did during the state election really worked. We managed to get Batu Kawah and the new seat Batu Kitang. You combine (the majority) these two (constituencies) alone it is already close to getting there. Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department