Rohani distances herself from Beting Maro independent candidate

KUCHING: Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim has assured Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) that she would not root for the Independent candidate for Beting Maro, Saifudin Matsah, who is her former political assistant.

This assurance was pointed out in a press statement issued yesterday in support of GPS election manifesto, which was unveiled late Thursday.

Beting Maro is one of three state constituencies under the Batang Lupar parliamentary area – the other two are Sebuyau and Lingga.

“Even though one of the Independent candidates (Saifudin) is my former political assistant (from 2013 to 2018), that does not mean that I would support or has sponsored him,” she said.

“As Batang Lupar MP under the GPS ticket, my undivided support would be towards the candidates chosen by the GPS chairman (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg,” stressed Rohani.

Saifuddin, now a social activist, will be facing GPS’ Razaili Gapor who had been Beting Maro assemblyman for two terms, businessman Jackie Chiew from Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK),acting Parti Keadilan Rakyat(PKR) Sarawak chairman Awang Zulkifli Awang Engkeh, and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak secretary Mohammad Arifiriazul Paijo, in the polls this Dec 18.

Adding on, Rohani said: “My responsibility is to make sure that the GPS candidates being fielded in the state constituencies under Batang Lupar would be given the mandate by the people in this coming state election.”

On the GPS election manifesto, Rohani described the 34 initiatives as ‘viable, practical, holistic and suitable to the needs of the people of Sarawak’.