Penguang takes steps to ensure Barisan Nasional win Baram
MIRI: Nearly half of the voters in Baram are registered in Marudi constituency, making it ( Marudi) the kingmaker in determining whether Barisan Nasional ( BN) will retain the seat in the May 9 polls.
Based on the number of voters recorded in the last state election, there are 33,458 registered voters in the Baram constituency. Out of the number, 14,858 voters or 44.41 per cent are voters in Marudi while 10,000 or 29.88 per cent are in Telang Usan with the remaining 8,600 or 25.70 per cent registered in the Mulu constituency.
Realising the important role played by voters from Marudi, its assemblyman Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, who is Progressive Democratic Party ( PDP) Baram chairman, took a step forward by activating the branch’s election machinery yesterday.
“I had taken the initiative to activate PDP Baram election machinery today ( yesterday) as Marudi plays a very important role in determining whether BN can win in Baram.
“We have discussed a wide range of issues (in the meeting), starting from lesson learnt from the previous two parliamentary and state elections and the results of last parliamentary election and state elections as the guide to make sure we will win by a bigger majority which I am very confident of,” he said in a press conference after chairing the meeting with PDP Baram exco at a hotel here yesterday.
Penguang noted that BN, which was represented by incumbent Anyi Ngau, won the Baram seat in the 2013 parliamentary election with a very narrow majority of 194 votes only.
When asked on reasons that had caused the very slim majority win, Penguang pointed out that among the causes was last minute change of candidate.
“This side ( Marudi) has always been a stronghold of BN. We never lost in any polling district ( PD), except in the last parliamentary election where BN lost in three of the PDs,” he said, adding BN lost in Teruking, Jegan Hilir and Jegan Ulu polling districts.
He said the last minute change in candidacy from Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan when the latter was not re-nominated had caused a lot of protest votes.
“The political scenario was also different then. Teras was just formed and then there were also fractions between the then SPDP (now PDP) and Teras which caused the slim majority win,” Penguang added.
On another note, Penguang expressed confidence that BN can win easily with a majority of at least 1,000 votes.
“1,000 votes is the minimum majority we can win in Baram. This time round, I am very confident, with the political climate and latest development, particularly in Marudi constituency and perhaps in Telang Usan and Mulu including Bario which is now under Baram parliamentary seat. I expect we can win with a much bigger majority,” he said.
He stressed that BN must win in Baram in order for the people to have stronger voice in the Parliament.
He called on all voters in Baram to translate their support for BN to votes in the coming May 9 polls.
The meeting was attended by about 50 PDP exco members, including the women’s wing.
Meanwhile, Penguang said, as of now, there is strong indication that Anyi would be renominated for the second time as the BN candidate for Baram.
“If there is any change of candidate, I think they ( party) must consult me because Marudi state seat is the kingmaker for Baram seat,” he told reporters.