SIBU: The Beting Maro constituency has been identified as a key focus for PAS Sarawak in its preparations for the upcoming Sarawak Election.
Sarawak PAS Commissioner Mohammad Arififiriazul Paijo said the results in Beting Maro provided a positive indication of the party’s potential to expand its electoral presence beyond the single seat it contested in the last election.
“Although PAS only contested the Beting Maro seat in the 2021 state polls, the upward trend in support from one election to another shows that this constituency remains strategic for PAS Sarawak,” he said at a press conference after the PAS Sarawak 2026 Settlement Programme on Sunday (January 18).
He noted that past experience served as an important reference, recalling that PAS Sarawak contested five seats in the 2011 state election and 11 seats in the 2016 state election, before scaling back its participation in 2021.
“By strengthening the party machinery and restructuring our strategy, PAS Sarawak aims to contest more than one seat in the next state election, which is expected to be held before February 2027,” he said.
In addition to Beting Maro, he said the Batang Lupar parliamentary constituency is also viewed as a focus area, citing the local community’s increasingly open acceptance of PAS.
In a related development, Mohammad Arififiriazul said PAS Sarawak has carried out an initial screening of potential candidates in each constituency, including women and non-Muslim candidates, in line with the party’s more inclusive approach.
“In Sarawak, the PAS Supporters’ Group plays an important role, particularly in areas such as Batang Lupar, Bintulu and Kuching. It is not impossible for non-Muslim candidates to be fielded, but the final decision is still at the research stage,” he said.
He also revealed that PAS Sarawak now has registered branches in 11 constituencies covering 11 parliamentary areas, further strengthening the party’s organisational structure at the state level.
Although PAS has yet to secure representation in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, he said the role of checks and balances continues through cooperation within Perikatan Nasional at the federal level, via Saratok MP Datuk Ali Biju.
“In a democracy, the role of checks and balances is not confined to elected representatives alone, but also involves the people and responsible political parties,” he said.
On party membership, he estimated that PAS Sarawak currently has between 8,000 and 10,000 members, including more than 1,000 non-Muslim members from various ethnic groups such as the Chinese, Iban and Bidayuh.
Among those present at the event were PAS Sarawak Deputy Commissioner I Rashidi Harun, Deputy Commissioner II Zulikipli Ramzi and Deputy Commissioner III Zharudin Narudin.
