KUCHING, Dec 15 — “Don’t mark Ali Biju’s name.”
That was the reminder by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to the Krian electorate to not vote for Independent candidate Datuk Ali Biju in the 12th Sarawak state election on Saturday.
Instead, he wants them to firmly throw their support behind Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Friday Belik despite Ali’s name appearing on the ballot paper.
Muhyiddin said election laws previously allowed candidates to withdraw their candidacy, meaning their names and picture (logo) will not appear on the ballot paper. However, this was no longer allowed, he added.
“That has been made clear by Ali Biju that he is not contesting. So he has been telling people don’t mark his name on the ballot paper, and he’s telling the same thing today. We have to vote for GPS for that particular seat (Krian),” he said at a Town Hall meeting with the State Recovery Council here today.
On December 6, Ali, who is also Sarawak Bersatu vice-chairman, filed in his nomination papers for the Krian seat as an Independent before announcing that he will not defend the seat three days later.
Instead, he urged his supporters to vote for GPS candidates in the state election.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin confirmed that the three Bersatu members who also filed in their papers as Independents have had their party membership automatically terminated.
The three are Siki Balarik who is contesting in Belaga, Ismawi Muhammad (Muara Tuang) and Ricky Enteri (Bawang Assan). — Bernama
