GPS' chances to win Lubok Antu rises with support of veteran Sarawak politician, says PRS Youth chief
KUCHING, Nov 8 — Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan today said Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) candidate Roy Angau Gingkai has a good chance to win in Lubok Antu in the 15th general election (GE15) with the support of veteran politician Datuk William Nyallau anak Badak.
He said Angau has requested Nyallau, a two-term Lubok Antu Member of Parliament, for help and to work as a team to wrest Lubok Antu back from Jugah Muyang, who won the seat as an independent in the 2018 general election.
“It is something like a reconciliation between present and former PRS members,” Snowdan said when asked to comment on Nyallau’s resignation from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) earlier today to lend support to GPS in Lubok Antu.
Nyallau was sacked from PRS just before the 2018 general election, along with a few other party leaders including former deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu and Edward Kurik.
Angau, a practising lawyer, was nominated by PRS to contest in Lubok Antu under the GPS logo in the 15th general election.
Snowdan, who is also the state deputy minister of tourism, creative industry and performing arts, said he does not know if Nyallau, a former vice-president, would rejoin the party.
“But, of course, in politics you don’t have permanent friends or permanent enemies,” he stressed.
However, he said although the support for Angau and GPS in Lubok Antu has increased, they still need to work hard and not to take things for granted.
“I am not saying that it will be an easy fight for GPS now. We still have to work very hard, meet every voter,” he said.
He said both Jugah, who is contesting on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) ticket and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) deputy president Johnical Rayong Nyipa, are veteran politicians and have their own core supporters.
“It is a blessing that Nyallau has come out to support our candidate,” he said.
Apart from Roy, Jugah and Rayong, Pakatan Harapan (PH) is fielding Langga Lias in Lubok Antu.
In a statement earlier today, Nyallau announced his resignation from PSB to express his support for the GPS candidate.
He said he has handed over his resignation letter to the PSB secretary-general’s office with a copy to party president Datuk Seri Wing Soon Koh.
He said under the leadership of state Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, together with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, GPS has been developing Sarawak well for the benefit of the people.
“As such, I have decided to quit PSB to support GPS. Together, we can build a stronger Sarawak.
“Together, we can fight for our rights. Together, we can reclaim all that belongs to us, the people of Sarawak, all along; and move Sarawak to a brighter future,” he said.
Nyallau was a Barisan Nasional’s MP for Lubok Antu from 2008 to 2018.
