GEDONG: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government had delivered on whatever that was promised, says Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

       The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, who is contesting the Gedong seat in the 12th state election, said people were capable of judging everything that had been implemented by GPS since coming into power.

       "Although there are parties who say the manifesto is not the Bible, to us it is a promise that we must deliver as best possible.

       "I hope our government now has social and economic policies until 2030 and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we want our economy to recover and I hope the people will also play their role so that Sarawak will have a brighter future for their children and grandchildren,” he said after the nomination process on Monday (Dec 6), according to Bernama.

       Representing GPS in the election this time, Abang Johari, who is contesting outside his traditional seat of Satok for the first time, will be challenged by three new faces - namely Mohamad Sofian Fariz Sharbini of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Kamal Bujang of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and Tomson Ango of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK).

       Abang Johari chose to contest in Gedong, a rural area, after serving Satok for nine terms and his three challengers are ordinary members in their respective parties.

       Mohamad Sofian, 36, who is a businessman and used to be active behind the scene for his party a few years ago, said that being a Gedong native, he wanted to be the "voice” of the people in the area, besides his desire to be a “giant-killer”.

       "I will be the voice of the rural folk, youths, and all the villages. I find that there is so much that I need to change and I will be a ‘giant-killer’ if I can defeat Abang Jo.

       "I too have a mission... because I grew up in Gedong. Various problems have gone unheard, many others I will expose during my campaigning,” said Mohamad Sofian, who is also active in a non-governmental organisation related to motoring.

       Tomson, 66, who used to work with an oil and gas company, said he was contesting to change Sarawak so that the people of this state would get to enjoy a better standard of living.

       Kamal, 68, who is the former headmaster of SK Pridan in Serian and served in the education sector for 35 years, said this was his first time contesting in an election.

       The Gedong state seat, which has 7,208 registered voters, is in the Batang Sadong parliamentary constituency.

       It is a new state legislative assembly seat that was formed after the redelineation process during the 11th Sarawak polls in 2016.

       Former Gedong rep Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais had announced his decision to withdraw and give way to Abang Johari to defend the GPS seat in the election this time.

       The Election Commission has set Dec 14 for early voting and Dec 18 for polling.