KUCHING: Now that he is no longer contesting for the Krian state seat, Datuk Ali Biju should actively campaign for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Friday Belik.

       This call was made by leaders from the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a component party of GPS whose candidate is contesting the seat.

       PDP deputy president Datuk Anthony Nogeh Gumbek said Ali should campaign alongside Friday as a gesture of sincerity.

       “We welcome his (Ali) decision. Let the past be the past.

       “Since his name will still appear on the ballot papers, I call on him to accompany and campaign for our GPS candidate to show his sincerity,” he said in a statement Friday (Dec 10).

       The same call was made by PDP vice-president Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil.

       “He should render support to GPS to reciprocate our support to Perikatan Nasional in helping the Federal government,” he was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post.

       On Thursday (Dec 9), Ali, who is from Bersatu, announced his withdrawal from the race for the Krian seat which he had held for two terms.

       He won the seat in the 2011 and 2016 under a PKR ticket, but left the party last year and later joined Bersatu.

       With the latest development, the seat will see a three-cornered fight between GPS, Parti Sarawak Bersatu and Parti Bumi Kenyalang.

       Ali, the Saratok MP, said he would give full support to Friday and called on all voters in his parliamentary constituency to support GPS candidates in the three state seats - Krian, Kalakang and Kabong.

       Krian is about 250km from Kuching and is in Betong division.