Abang Jo's move to Gedong proves focus also on rural development- Fadillah

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the decision was contrary to the assumption of some quarters that the Chief Minister was only focusing on Kuching City.

"The change in seat depends on the situation. There is an incumbent who resigns or gives others the chance to contest.

"Like the Chief Minister (Abang Johari), he wants to represent Gedong, with him representing the semi-urban and rural areas, this shows that attention will be given to the rural areas, that is probably the mesaage he wants to convey," he told reporters after officiating the Sepakat@Komuniti Keluarga Malaysia programme here, today.

Yesterday, Abang Johari, the nine-term assemblyman for the Satok constituency, who is also PBB president and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman confirmed that he will be moving to Gedong and will not be contesting the Satok seat.

The Satok state seat held by Abang Johari since 1981 will be contested by PBB Satok branch deputy chairman Datuk Ibrahim Baki in the upcoming election.

Fadillah expressed confidence in Ibrahim's credibility adding that he had served the people for a long time.

"He is familair with the people and has gone down to the field several times. InsyaAllah he will win their support," he said.

Fadillah added that the GPS candidate lineup this time is a good combination of 'old' and young people.

Meanwhile, Fadillah welcomed the Barisan Nasional's (BN) decision not to allow the use of the BN logo in GPS' campaign during the Sarawak polls.

He said the decision showed that BN is aware that GPS is capable of leading the state.

"That is the spirit of solidarity, so we welcome it, even though we are no longer with BN in terms of political coalition," he said.

Earlier, BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan in a press conference informed the decision, thus confirming BN's intention not to contest in the state election for the first time.

The EC has set the nomination date for the Sarawak polls on Dec 6, early voting on Dec 14 and polling day on Dec 18.