Miri MP appointed national PKR VP in run-up to Sarawak polls

Miri MP Dr Teo during a recent visit to a site in his constituency ravaged by open burning.

MIRI: Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng of PKR has been appointed the party’s national vice-president.

Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui on Saturday (June 20) said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made the announcement concerning Dr Teo the previous night in Kuala Lumpur during a PKR central leadership meeting.

PKR Baram division chief Roland Engan, also from northern Sarawak, was made a PKR supreme council member, said Abun.

"The appointments of Dr Teo and Engan are a huge boost to Sarawak PKR in our preparation to face the looming state elections.

"It will boost our ground preparations as it shows that the central leadership is giving attention to this state.

"The latest appointments show that the relationship between Sarawak PKR and the national level PKR is still solid.

"PKR at the national and state levels are focusing now on the Sarawak state polls which can be called anytime," Abun said.

Dr Teo is a two-term Miri MP and a medical doctor. He is a founding member of Sarawak PKR in 1999.

He is expected to challenge Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin for the Senadin state constituency (in outskirts of Miri city) in the coming 12th state polls.

The state polls are due by June next year but talk is that it could be held before the end of the year.

Dr Teo lost narrowly to Lee in the 2011 state polls by only 57 votes.

Dr Teo did not contest in the 2016 state polls.

In the 2013 national elections (parliamentary elections in Sarawak), Dr Teo defeated Sarawak United Peoples Party secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting by 1,992 votes.

In the 2018 parliamentary polls, Dr Teo again defeated Ting but this time by 13,663 votes majority.

Miri parliamentary constituency has three state constituencies — Senadin, Pujut and Piasau.

Ting is the incumbent state assemblyman of Piasau.

PKR is expected to contest in Senadin with Dr Teo as its candidate, while DAP is expected to contest in Piasau and Pujut.

PKR is thought to be fielding Engan as its candidate in the Mulu state seat.