Labuan PAS to contest again
Published on: Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Labuan: PAS which lost its deposit in the contest for the Labuan parliamentary seat in 2008, wants to be in the race again in the coming general election, regardless of the aspirations of opposition colleagues PKR and DAP.PAS Federal Territories Commissioner, Uztaz Haji Mohd Noor bin Mohd, told a press conference that the Presidential Council of PR had decided that for State seats, the State PR councils would decide."The three leaders of the council from PAS, PKR and DAP had agreed for the Labuan seat to be contested by PAS," he said.ADVERTISEMENT He said Labuan PAS would send the name of the candidate to the party president for approval. The Islamic party also lost all its previous three election outings on the island, which is a duty-free haven for liquor and cigarettes.Mohd Noor said so far the seats distribution in FT was that DAP will stand in Seputeh, Cheras, Segambut and Kepong while PKR will contest in Bandar Tun Razak, Lembah Pantai, Wangsa Maju and PAS at Putra Jaya, Titiwangsa, Labuan. It is unclear about remaining seats, including Setiawangsa."What is important is that in the coming elections BN is challenged one against one without split of opposition votes and the opposition had a good chance to unseat BN," he said. He said though PR component parties had a good relationship it was important to strengthen it because BN was backed by strong government machinery. "Labuan must be in the march towards PutraJaya."ADVERTISEMENT On issues, Mohd Noor said survey at ground support indicated that 55 per cent of the Malays supported PAS many of the Chinese voters were backing PR. He said PAS had 1,500 hardcore supporters in Labuan.Regarding BN's impressive victories against PAS in the last election, Mohd Noor said support for BN had declined in six areas, including postal votes.
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He noted that many were frustrated and disappointed over a number of issues on the island like the oil and gas sector employing only about 20 per cent locals compared to 70 per cent in Terengganu. PAS would also try to improve infrastructure and the Labuan-Menumbok bridge will be on the agenda since the medical facilities here were inadequate. He said like in Kelantan where the Chinese made up only 10 per cent of the population, in Labuan PAS will respect the economic and cultural activities of other races and the religious righteous of minorities.Based on the electoral rolls, Labuan has 9,492 Malays voters. Some 5,438 are Chinese, 380 Indians, 7,433 - Sabah/Sarawakians and 643 others. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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In the last elections the PAS candidate lost into deposit and BN won with an over 8,000 majority. DAP candidate Lau Seng Kiat managed to keep his deposit. Labuan is generally regarded as BN stronghold.