KUCHING: Local Opposition party Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) will contest up to seven parliamentary seats in Sarawak in the coming general election.
PBK president Voon Lee Shan said the party had more or less confirmed its candidate line-up, including himself, for the seats of Mas Gading, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Puncak Borneo, Lanang, Bintulu and Kanowit.
However, he said his own candidacy depended on whether he was able to raise sufficient funds for the RM10,000 deposit to contest in a parliamentary constituency.
"I may not stand in GE15 if I do not have enough money for the deposit. I have also yet to decide whether I will contest in Bandar Kuching or Stampin.
"I will confirm within these next two days where I will be standing," he told a press conference here on Wednesday (Nov 2).
Nominations for the elections fall on Saturday (Nov 5).
Voon also said PBK's candidates had received their "watikah" (authorisation letters) from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) as they will be contesting using the PSB logo, except in Mas Gading where the party will use its own logo.
"For Mas Gading, I have issued the watikah to our candidate Sim Min Leong," he said.
PBK's other candidates include Lue Chieng Hing, who may be fielded in Stampin, Tomson Ango (Puncak Borneo), Priscilla Lau (Lanang), Leighton Manjah (Bintulu) and Soekarno Lanyau (Kanowit).
For GE15, PBK is working with PSB and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) to avoid contesting against each other.
"We want to respect the wishes of the people for the local Opposition parties to fight as a unit by ensuring that we don't clash in seats.
"Our main focus is to fight against the two giants of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the peninsula-based parties of Pakatan Harapan," Voon said.
