PKR confident of winning seven seats in Sarawak

KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) is confident of winning seven out of the 15 parliamentary seats it is contesting in the state.

PKR Petra Jaya chairman Baharuddin Mokhsen said the party is positive about winning in Miri, Baram, Saratok, Selangau, Lubok Antu, Sibuti, and Betong.

The party has also fielded candidates in Petra Jaya, Puncak Borneo, Sri Aman, Kanowit, Mukah, Hulu Rajang, Limbang, and Lawas.

During a press conference yesterday, Baharuddin claimed most of the party’s 15 candidates “are doing extremely well on the ground”.

“We will pray and work hard to deliver as many seats as possible,” he said.

Baharuddin said PKR’s campaign in Miri, Baram, Saratok and Selangau have gradually picked up pace, although he pointed out transportation is an issue for campaigners in Baram.

“I hope our boys will do their best to get the voters out to vote. It is very interesting in Saratok as we are doing beyond expectations.

“As for Selangau, our state chairman Baru Bian is contesting there. We are doing very well and so we are quite confident of winning these seats,” he added.

Baharuddin added Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing’s recent statements against Baru were uncalled for.

He lashed out at Masing for resorting to racial politics, pointing out that they echoed the style of politics in the Peninsula, which created racial tension among the community.

“Masing said that Baru Bian is an Orang Ulu and should not be contesting in a 90 per cent Iban seat. Such racial politics was practised 20 to 30 years ago.

“We are very sad that a veteran political leader like Masing made those kinds of remarks. We do not want racial tension in Sarawak,” he said. As for the other seats, he said PKR’s “candidates are making progress”.

“Before the dissolution of Parliament, we said that we could win four seats. Now I think it is within our means to win seven seats,” he said.

He added the party is liaising with the State Secretary’s Office to see if opposition leaders Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, and Nurul Izzah Anwar will be allowed to enter Sarawak for ceramahs in Sri Aman, Selangau, and Saratok.

According to Baharuddin, the state government had allowed entry for Democratic Action Party ( DAP) secretary general Lim Guan Eng “because they know that basically urban areas are gone for them”.