Aspirasi eyeing ‘about 20’ seats in state election
SIBU: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) is eyeing to contest in some 20 seats in the coming 12th State Election, said its deputy president Simon Tiong.
In this regard, he hoped the party would be able to make a breakthrough to win some seats and carry the people’s aspirations to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
“At this point of time, we are looking at (contesting) about 20 seats in the coming state election because we have yet to announce some other Bidayuh seats, which are important to us especially for the Bidayuh community.
“That is all I can say for now,” Tiong said when contacted yesterday.
The 53-year-old businessman recalled that the majority of the previously announced seats that the party would be contesting were in urban areas.
The Borneo Post reported on Dec 22, 2020 that the party was looking to contest in at least six seats in the central region during the next state election.
Aspirasi president Lina Soo said the constituencies were Nangka, Pelawan, Bukit Assek, and Dudong in Sibu Division as well as Repok and Meradong in Sarikei Division.
Tiong, who was previously announced to contest in Pelawan, said he had since made way for others to be fielded there.
“My president had announced me to be (fielded) in Pelawan (previously), I know that.
“Since then, we have new ‘nationalists’ coming into our group and they have the heart for Sarawak, so I let them take Pelawan. I will be going somewhere else,” he revealed.
Pressed further on where he would be contesting, Tiong said if given the opportunity, he would like to contest against Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in the Satok seat.
“That is my first choice – it will be in Satok or go back to (stand in) Nangka.
“It is just a dream, and I don’t know whether it will come true.”
Adding on, Tiong said Aspirasi under its political alliance known as Gasak will not contest against fellow members.
Apart from Aspirasi, Gasak comprises Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S), Sarawak Liberation Movement (SLM) and Sarawak Independence Alliance (SIA).
“We will stand on the same platform and will not cross paths (with one another),” he said.
Asked if the alliance would contest under a common logo, he replied in the negative, saying they would contest under their respective party logo.
On another matter, he recalled that when the party raised the issue of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) on a political platform, they were labelled as ‘politically insane’ because it was not a compelling issue during the 2016 state election.
However, he noted ahead of the coming state election, everybody including political parties are now talking about MA63 and Sarawak’s true identity.
“We hope to win a few (seats) especially some of the urban seats so that we can pursue further on this MA63 and Sarawak’s true identity.”
Towards this end, Tiong asserted that Aspirasi will focus on the party’s mission to fight for an independence referendum for Sarawak.
In the 2016 state polls, Tiong contested in Nangka and polled 773 votes, losing to Dr Annuar Rapaee from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu who garnered 9,617 votes, while Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Abdul Raafidin Majidi obtained 2,000 votes.
At this point of time, we are looking at (contesting) about 20 seats in the coming state election because we have yet to announce some other Bidayuh seats, which are important to us especially for the Bidayuh community.
Simon Tiong