KUCHING: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Krian incumbent Datuk Ali Biju (pic) has made a sudden U-turn by withdrawing from the Sarawak state election after insisting he would defend his seat.

       However, two out of three other Bersatu members contesting as Independents say that they will continue to contest in their respective seats.

       Ali said he would withdraw from the race and support Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s candidate Friday Belik.

       “I urge all voters in the Saratok parliamentary area to continue to support the GPS candidates,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Krian is one of the three seats in the Saratok parliamentary constituency, of which Ali is a Member of Parliament. The other two seats are Kabong and Kalaka.

       He is the two-term assemblyman for Krian, a seat which he won under the PKR ticket.

       He subsequently left the party and joined Bersatu.

       Ali said he decided to withdraw after realising his candidacy would affect the good relationship between Bersatu and GPS.

       “I humbly and sincerely withdraw my candidacy and give my full support to the GPS candidate Friday Belik,” he said.

       Although Ali has pulled out, his name will remain on the ballot paper.

       Regulation 9 of the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations states that no candidate can withdraw after the nomination day.

       If Ali wins the seat since his name remains on the ballot paper, his aide said: “We will cross the bridge if we come to it.”

       Meanwhile, Siki Balarik and Ricky Enteri, the two Bersatu members contesting in the polls, told The Star that they remain steadfast in their decisions to run as Independents.

       They said they would leave it to the party to decide on their memberships.

       Siki, who is contesting for the Belaga seat, said she had already made all the preparations to contest and it would not be right for her to pull out now.

       “If Ali decides to withdraw, that is his decision. But I am determined to contest,” she said.

       Ricky, who is eyeing the Bawang Assan seat, also said he would not change his mind.

       “I want to contest and I have been preparing for this. On whether the party will sack me, I will leave it to them to decide, but for now, I will focus on the election,” he said.

       The fourth Bersatu member Ismawi Muhammad, contesting in Muara Tuang on an Independent ticket, could not be contacted.

       On Wednesday, Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he was disappointed that Bersatu members, including Ali, had reneged on an agreement not to contest in the state polls.