GPS ready to face Baru Bian in Lawas seat

KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is prepared to slug it out with former federal works minister Baru Bian, who is Ba' Kelalan state assemblyman, in Sarawak's northern most parliamentary seat of Lawas in the 15th general election (GE15).

GPS, which comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), would defend the Lawas seat, said PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

Baru is expected to be fielded by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) in Lawas, which comprises the Bukit Sari and Ba' Kelalan state seats.

"It's up to him (Baru) because we practise democracy. Anyone is free to contest. GPS will field candidates in all 31 constituencies (in Sarawak) and is prepared for any anything," he told reporters after the 2022 Sarawak Entrepreneurs Exhibition here today.

Lawas is billed as a hotseat following PSB's announcement that it would field Baru, who is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Selangau, about 560 km south of Lawas.

In GE14, Datuk Henry Sum Agong obtained 10,037 votes to win Lawas by a 6,000-vote majority over Danny Piri of PKR and independent candidate Mohamad Brahim.

In the last state election in December last year, Bukit Sari was won by Awang Tengah with a majority of 5,636 votes while Baru won neighbouring Ba' Kelalan with a 680-vote majority.

-- BERNAMA