Tiong: Too early to discuss seat allocations for next S’wak election

SIBU (Oct 1): It is premature to engage in discussions about seat allocations for the next Sarawak election, said Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

In this regard, the Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman urged political leaders to refrain from debating on the matter.

“Premature discussions can undermine the collective spirit of Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) ‘Sarawak First’ principle.

“The people of the state should focus on the quality of service and whether the candidates are accepted by the voters as ‘winnable’,” he said in a statement.

His remarks follow recent media reports about political factions or parties within GPS reportedly staking claims on specific constituencies, which have sparked public debate.

Tiong emphasised that the decision of which party contests in which seats will be made “when the time is right”, based on key factors such as voter acceptance, quality of service, and the candidates’ chances of winning.

“When the time is right, the decision will become clear. Repeated discussions about seat allocations will only unsettle the public, shift our focus, and be unfair to potential candidates who are actively serving the people.”

He also highlighted the longstanding contributions of current representatives, cautioning that premature discussions could divert attention away from the recognition they deserve.

“Our party’s deputy president Dato Henry Harry Jinep has already spoken on this matter, reaffirming PDP’s commitment to GPS and the ‘Sarawak First’ principle.

“Our focus is on serving the people with the highest standard of quality, and any decision on contesting in the elections will be made by the people and the GPS leadership. We fully respect that decision,” he said.

Additionally, Tiong called upon PDP’s senior vice-president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and vice-president Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa to stay focused on their duties and not be distracted by the rumours.

“The rest will be determined in due course. With Sarawak’s progress and growing public awareness, we must move away from outdated thinking when it comes to seat allocations,” he said.