PBDS moves HQ to Kuching ahead of state polls, appoints election director

KUCHING (March 28): Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has relocated its headquarters from Sibu to Kuching, positioning itself strategically ahead of the upcoming state elections.

Party president Dr John Brian Anthony said the move places the party closer to the centre of state governance.

“We decided to move away from our previous headquarters in Sibu to Kuching because we feel that Kuching is a more strategic site because that is where the major government offices are and where the government sits.

“As the (state) election is coming up, this new headquarters will also serve as our base of operations,” he said after officiating the new PBDS headquarters at Mile 9 here.

Dr John explained that the relocation process began in January this year, with the party moving in after Chinese New Year following refurbishment work.

The office is now fully operational with permanent staff.

The Sibu headquarters will be vacated once the tenancy agreement expires in the coming months.

Dr John said the new location was chosen not only for its proximity to government institutions but also for its accessibility to supporters, particularly the Bidayuh community.

“With the establishment, we hope this will bring the party closer to our supporters, especially in this location where it is a very strategic location.

“There is also a large Dayak community here, especially the Bidayuh area, so it is very strategic.

“Through our various established branches, we also support the grassroots level,” he said.

In conjunction with the headquarters opening, PBDS also announced the appointment of vice president Kipli Ayom as State Election Director.

In this role, Kipli will oversee strategic planning, campaign operations, and grassroots mobilisation across Sarawak to ensure a unified presence at the polls.

The party also reaffirmed the padi stalk as its official mascot, outlining its symbolic significance.

The stalk represents prosperity and life as a primary staple, reflecting PBDS’s commitment to economic stability and connection to the land. Its bowing nature as it ripens symbolises humility in strength, while the many grains on a single stalk embody unity and resilience, highlighting the power of community solidarity.

Dr John reported a significant increase in party membership, particularly among younger Dayaks.

He said PBDS currently has between 14,000 and 17,000 members statewide, with an average of 300 registering online daily.

“We have a large number of young Dayaks, millennial Dayaks, who are very familiar with electronic membership forms. They follow our social media, we have very good interaction with them.

“With the presence of these millennial Dayaks, you can expect the way we drive ourselves forward will be more aggressive,” he said.

He noted that younger Dayaks are well-informed about political and socio-economic issues, drawing from personal experiences across Sarawak and beyond.

“All the interactions that I have with them, they are totally aware of what is going on in Sarawak. They are able to see and experience issues such as employment, income, moving around in Sarawak, meaning to say that they are very good at assessing the similarities and differences.

“These millennials, unlike the older generation, are fluid. They work in various towns, move a lot in Kuala Lumpur and the world at large.

“So their perception could not be easily controlled by anybody. Even I am quite surprised when they talk about development in Sarawak, what they hear and see, and they are able to say why they hear something different but experience their lives something else,” he said.

He added that each PBDS branch has a minimum of 50 members.