KUCHING, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will not take the upcoming Sarawak State Election landscape lightly, despite currently holding 80 out of 82 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information Chief Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said although GPS holds a strong victory record from the previous term, every state seat remains critical, and the coalition constantly respects grassroot voter views and sentiments.
"We are confident of retaining at least two-thirds or three-quarters even, of the seats just like the previous election, but I'm not being arrogant here. Of course, there are certain seats which we have to give a little bit more emphasis, elected representatives who may not have carried out their responsibilities well need to be replaced.
"Whoever is going to be replaced, definitely in every election, there are bound to be people who are going to be replaced, and we hope voters understand, sometimes they want candidates retained, but the party also has plans, not just for now but for the future," he told a press conference for the DayakDaily Writing Contest Awards here today.
Touching on machinery readiness, the Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister said GPS, comprising PBB, Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), is always ready to face the state election.
Regarding seat overlaps among component parties, Abdul Karim said the matter is left entirely to the wisdom of top leadership to resolve through consensus.
"There are some overlapping seats that were previously under SUPP, then suddenly won by PDP... or areas that were previously under PDP, now they are under PBB," he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim, who has served as Asajaya assemblyman for 25 years, expressed willingness to step down if the party intends to field a new face in the constituency.
"I've been there for quite long, 25 years. If there are suggestions from younger people to take over, I'm prepared to give up and support whoever is going to be there," he said, while anticipating GPS will reshuffle its candidate lineup with at least 10 per cent new faces for this election.
He said fielding younger candidates is crucial to ensure continuity in dynamic state leadership, alongside empowering the women's wing leadership.
The current mandate for the Sarawak DUN expires in February 2027.
-- BERNAMA