Sarawak State Election: PDP should be entrusted to defend all its eight seats, say the party's Youth and Women wings

SIMANGGANG, Nov 8 2026: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Youth and Women wings have stressed that the party should be entrusted to defend all its seats on Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ticket in the December 12 state election.

In a joint statement, they said the party's position is that it should be given the opportunity to continue serving and defending the constituencies in which it now has an established political and grassroots presence.

"The selection of individual candidates, however, should remain subject to careful assessment of local circumstances, electoral competitiveness and the expectations of the electorate," they said in the statement posted on the party's Facebook.

They added the overriding objective must be to ensure that GPS fields candidates who are best positioned to win the confidence of voters and deliver effective representation.

"It is on this basis that we fully support the PDP leadership's efforts to defend all eight seats," he said, referring to Tasik Biru (Henry Harry Jinep), Engkilili (Johnical Rayong Ngipa), Bawang Assan (Wong Soon Koh), Marudi (Penguang Manggil), Dudong (Tiong King Sing), Ba'Kelalan (Baru Bian), Meluan (Rolland Duat Jubin) and Krian (Friday Belik).

The two wings said seats negotiations should not become a contest over historical ownership, saying: "Instead, they should focus on how GPS can best consolidate its grassroots machinery, draw upon the respective strengths of its component parties and maximize the coalition's overall electoral performance."

They said also concurred  with the approach emphasized by GPS deputy chairman Douglas Uggah Embas  to build upon the coalition's proven electoral strategies while remaining pragmatic and responsive to conditions on the ground.

"We believe the maturity of Sarawak's political landscape lies in the ability of GPS component parties to express their respective positions openly, while resolving differences through constructive discussions that place the coalition's collective interests and the people's mandate above all else.

"Respecting history does not mean being bound by it. Valuing experience does not mean rejecting change," they said.

The two wings reiterated their unwavering support for the party leadership's efforts to defend all eight seats under the GPS banner.

At the same time, they said they fully respect the authority of the GPS leadership, under Premier and GPS chairman Abang Johari  Openg to make the final decisions on seat allocations and candidate selections.

"Ultimately, what matters most is that GPS presents the people of Sarawak with a strong, credible and electable team, capable of earning their continued trust and delivering further progress and development for the state," they said.