KUCHING: Nearly half of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidates for the 15th General Election (GE15) are fresh faces, including a state assemblyman and a former senator making their first bid for Parliament.
With three MPs from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) not seeking re-election – Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar in Santubong, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (Batang Lupar) and Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat (Betong) – there has also been a reshuffle which will see Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri is moving from Batang Sadong to Santubong.
The other two places will be taken by new faces Mohammad Shafizan Kepli and Richard Rapu, respectively.
They are among 14 new faces for the 31 parliamentary seats in Sarawak announced by GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The others include Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, who will take on DAP’s incumbent Chong Chieng Jen in Stampin, and former Dewan Negara deputy president Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie in Sri Aman.
Incumbent Datuk Willie Mongin was also named to defend Puncak Borneo for GPS after having won it on a PKR ticket in 2018.
Willie quit PKR to join Bersatu after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in 2020. He applied to join PBB earlier this year.
PBB is the main component of GPS, along with the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing will be defending his Bintulu seat while PRS president Datuk Joseph Salang will be attempting a comeback in Julau, where he lost in 2018.
Abang Johari said the GPS candidates consisted of experienced and young faces, including two new female candidates for a total of five women.
“GPS’ direction is very clear. Our theme is Sarawak First,” the Premier said when announcing the candidates at PBB headquarters here yesterday.
Salang, a former four-term Julau MP, said he was prepared to make a comeback at the request of voters and PRS.
“After four years (since GE14), I don’t think I can call it a retirement, it’s more like a sabbatical,” he said.
Newcomer Rodiyah Sapiee, 44, said she was looking forward to following in Nancy’s footsteps in the Batang Sadong seat.
“Just as Nancy has done in the past, I will ensure that Sarawak’s rights are fought for.
“I won’t deny that I feel nervous, but I am thankful for the opportunity,” she said.
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