A division within the Progressive Democratic Party（PDP） has formally requested that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition allow all of the party’s current incumbents to defend their respective seats in the upcoming state election.
Batu Lintang division chief Stephen Ang stated that this proposal was among the key resolutions passed during the division’s recent triennial general assembly. He emphasized that the division is prepared to activate its entire machinery to ensure that party candidates secure victories in the next polls.
Heightened seat tensions
The resolution arrives amidst a long-standing rivalry between the Progressive Democratic Party and a fellow coalition component, the Sarawak United People’s Party. A primary point of contention is the Dudong seat, currently represented by party president Tiong King Sing.
The friction between Tiong and Sarawak United People’s Party president Sim Kui Hian dates back to the 2021 state election. At that time, the coalition leadership named Tiong as the candidate for Dudong, a move that prompted a public protest from Sim, who claimed the decision contradicted previous agreements. The seat had been a traditional stronghold for the Sarawak United People’s Party for decades prior to the shift.
Expanding influence and rival claims
The territorial dispute has expanded following the absorption of former Parti Sarawak Bersatu members into the Progressive Democratic Party. Through this merger, the party gained control of the Bawang Assan, Engkilili, and Ba’kelalan seats, currently held by Wong Soon Koh, Johnical Rayong Ngipa, and Baru Bian.
The Sarawak United People’s Party continues to eye Bawang Assan and Engkilili, asserting its historical claim to these constituencies. Both Wong and Rayong were previously affiliated with the Sarawak United People’s Party before their moves through the political landscape, setting the stage for a complex negotiation within the state coalition as the next election cycle approaches.
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