PBB veep ridicules Sarawak PKR man’s call for GPS seats

Iswardy Morni had challenged GPS to hand several state seats to PKR to show its sincerity in working in the unity government.

(FMT) – A Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader has shot down Sarawak PKR strategic director Iswardy Morni’s call for GPS to hand several state seats to PKR to show the coalition’s sincerity in working in the unity government.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah ridiculed Iswardy’s proposal, saying Sarawak PKR cannot expect to be given seats for free when it had failed to win them in the past.

Karim added that Sarawak PKR’s failure to win even a single state seat in the 2021 state election was evidence that Sarawakians had rejected the party.

“Sarawak has Sarawak-based parties, and we know the problems Sarawakians face. We don’t need all these parties that come from other parts of Malaysia.

No doubt, they can contest (in Sarawak) on grounds of democracy. But democracy can be interpreted in so many ways. If a candidate wins without contest, that’s democracy, too. Be realistic, he said.

Karim, a state minister, also challenged Iswardy to throw his hat in the ring in the next state election if he was really confident that PKR had the support of Sarawakians.

The five-term assemblyman said he would be happy to contest against the Petra Jaya PKR chief for his Asajaya seat if PBB decides to field him again.

“I have invited him (to contest) in the past but he didn’t want to. So, once again, I’m inviting him to contest.

I’m not being arrogant, but I would love to see where he stands and to see the level of acceptance he has among Sarawakians.

On Tuesday, Karim warned PKR not to jeopardise GPS’s cooperation under the unity government by contesting in the next state polls, especially given that the state assembly is dominated by GPS.

He maintained that GPS was with the unity government but warned that this unity must not disappear during elections.

In response, Iswardy said Karim should have discussed and negotiated the matter with Sarawak PKR rather than making such a statement in public.

Iswardy also said GPS should hand several seats to PKR, DAP and Amanah if it did not want the parties to contest in the state polls.