PBDS to contest at least 28 seats in upcoming state polls, branches to select candidates

MIRI (Feb 2): Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) will contest at least 28 seats in the upcoming state election, with all candidates to be determined by their respective branches, said party president Dr John Brian Anthony.

He said that although the party constitution gives the president the prerogative to select candidates, PBDS prefers its 28 established branches to identify and propose their own best candidates.

“If a branch has two or three potential candidates and wishes the Supreme Council to decide, they will submit the names to us.

“The Supreme Council will then deliberate and make a decision on their behalf, with the branch’s agreement, and that person will be their candidate,” he told reporters after chairing the PBDS Supreme Council meeting at a hotel here on Sunday.

John Brian stressed that PBDS will not accept ‘parachute candidates’ in the upcoming state election, adding that all candidates must understand and uphold the party’s principles, values and struggles.

On party expansion, he said PBDS has recently launched three new branches — Telang Usan, Mulu and Marudi — as part of efforts to widen and strengthen its presence across Sarawak, particularly in Dayak-majority areas.

He added that the party aims to establish at least 50 branches by the end of this year.

“With or without a state election, this is part of our normal process of building the party’s organisation in Sarawak. It is not driven by the coming election,” he said.

On preparations for the state election, John Brian said one of the key agenda items at Sunday’s meeting was the establishment of the party’s election machinery.

“We will set up our election committees and election directorate, as well as determine zoning as part of our preparations for the next state election,” he said.