After Sabah breakthrough, PAS eyes 4 seats in Sarawak polls

PAS is looking to contest four seats in the upcoming Sarawak state election, including the Samariang, Sebuyau and Beting Maro constituencies, following its success in winning a seat in the Sabah assembly in November.

Sarawak PAS chief Arifiriazul Paijo said the state chapter had proposed the matter to the central leadership for approval, Dayak Daily reported.

Arifiriazul added that Sarawak PAS is eyeing one more seat in the Bintulu or Sibuti parliamentary constituency, which will be announced later on.

“For now, these three seats are almost certain, subject to the top leadership’s decision,” he said, adding that candidates had been shortlisted and the election machinery had been prepared.

PAS made history during the Sabah polls on Nov 29 after state chief Aliakbar Gulasan won the Karambunai seat, earning the Islamic party its first-ever elected seat in East Malaysia.

PAS contested just one seat in the 2021 Sarawak polls, Beting Maro, which was retained by Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s Razaili Gapor with a majority of 1,711 votes ahead of Arifiriazul.

Beting Maro and Sebuyau are under the Batang Lupar federal constituency, while Samariang falls within Petra Jaya. All three state seats have a majority Muslim-Bumiputera electorate.

Arifiriazul said Samariang was among the first few seats PAS contested when it first ventured into the Bornean state in 2001, alongside Beting Maro.

The party contested more seats over time and fielded 11 candidates in the 2016 state polls but failed to win any seats.

PAS has about 10,000 members in Sarawak, of whom 1,000 are from the non-Muslim wing.