Penguang calls on Ali Biju to back GPS candidate for Krian
MIRI: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) vice-president Datu Dr Penguang Manggil has called on Krian incumbent Datuk Ali Biju to back Friday Belik – the party’s candidate for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the seat.
This follows Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement last Saturday that the party would sit out the 12th Sarawak election.
Muhyiddin had said Bersatu’s leadership decided to give way to GPS in the polls.
The former prime minister also said all Bersatu members would instead help and support GPS to ensure the coalition would have the majority to form the next state government.
Ali is a two-term assemblyman for Krian, winning the seat while still with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
He left PKR last year and joined Muhyiddin, who was then prime minister, in Bersatu and was subsequently appointed Energy and Natural Resources Deputy Minister – a post he continues to hold.
Penguang acknowledged that as the incumbent, Ali’s support would be crucial for GPS’ efforts to win back Krian.
“I urge the incumbent for Krian to let the GPS candidate in the person of Friday Belik to stand undisturbed,” he added.
Ali first won the seat in 2011 in a four-cornered fight against Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie (then Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party – SPDP), Liman Sujang (Sarawak National Party), and Banyi Beriak (independent) with a majority of 2,090 votes.
In the 2016 election, Ali would triumph again by a 1,640-vote majority in a straight fight against Kilat Beriak (SPDP).