PKR sees Batang Ai as test of strength
by Yong Min Wei & Sharon Tan, The Edge
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is ready to face Barisan Nasional (BN) in an anticipated fierce by-election in Sarawak and expects the battle for the Batang Ai seat as a test of the opposition’s strength in the state.
PKR information chief Tian Chua said the by-election would be an indication of the mood and inclination of voters in the east Malaysian state, possibly paving the way for a swing in favour of Pakatan Rakayat (PR) in the state elections which had to be called by mid-2011.
“We would work closely with all the opposition forces in Sarawak to ensure that we win the seat,” he told a press conference at the parliament lobby yesterday, while offering condolences to the family of Parti Rakyat Sarawak’s (PRS) vice-president Dublin Unting Ingkot who died early yesterday morning following a stroke nine months ago.
Sarawak Assistant Sports Minister Dublin won the Batang Ai seat in the May 2006 elections after defeating Sarawak National Party’s (SNAP) Nicholas Bawin Anggat with an 806-majority.
According to Chua, PKR would be in discussions with SNAP which contested the Batang Ai seat and was confident that the opposition parties in Sarawak would be able to come up with a common candidate without much fuss.
“From the PKR perspective, we believe that we have a good potential and hope that other opposition parties would cooperate with us,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters that BN would certainly defend the Batang Ai seat as the former elected representative was from the ruling coalition and had held the seat for a few terms.
He said BN would only prepare to face the by-election in the predominantly Iban seat after the Election Commission (EC) had decided on the by-election date, adding that BN was also preparing for the Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections.
“It’s up to the EC to decide on the dates. We will go along with that,” the premier said when asked if the Batang Ai by-election would be held with two other by-elections in the peninsula.
EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar when contacted said there would be a by-election in Batang Ai but the EC was still awaiting official notification from the Sarawak state assembly speaker.
He also said it was unlikely for the Batang Ai by-election to be held simultaneously with the other two as the seat in Sarawak was located in a rural area and the EC needed time to prepare.
