FORMER Krian assemblyman Ali Biju said pulling out of the contest for the seat, which he had held for two terms, is a “big sacrifice” for both him and his supporters.

Nonetheless, he said he did it for his party, Bersatu.

“I pulled out to preserve the good relationship between Bersatu and GPS,” the Sarawak Bersatu vice-chairman said in reference to the state’s ruling coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak. 

Ali said when he filed his nomination papers for the state elections as an independent on Monday, he had been advised by the party’s top leadership not to contest. 

Ali, who won the seat on the PKR ticket in the last polls, said he ignored the advice and went ahead due to the “strong request from my supporters”.

However, on Thursday, he announced that he was withdrawing from the race.

In a news conference in Saratok last night after a meeting with his divisional leaders to explain his withdrawal, Ali vehemently denied he was pressured by the party to pull out.

Bersatu leaders Mohamed Azmin Ali and Rashid Hasnon were also at the press conference. 

“They explained the strategic reasons why I should pull out,” said Ali, who is also a deputy minister in the federal government.

“I understood the strategic reasons. I hope my supporters will understand it, too.”

Ali, who retained the seat by a 1,640-vote majority in a straight fight with Barisan Nasional’s Kilat Beriak in the 2016 elections, said he hoped GPS will reciprocate his sacrifice at the 15th general election when he defends the Saratok parliamentary seat.

“I hope they will give way,” he said.

Some of the supporters leaving Ali’s service centre where the meeting was held seemed to have understood the reasons for his withdrawal.

“Only this time. The next one (general election), it will be back to normal,” they told reporters.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin sent supreme council member Azmin to Saratok to personally explain to Ali’s supporters on why it is in the best interest “for everyone” Ali should not contest.

With his withdrawal, Ali said the GPS candidate Friday Belik will have an easy run for the seat.

He gave his promise that he will personally campaign with Belik.

“From the day after tomorrow, I will campaign with him from longhouse to longhouse,” he said.

Ali also said one of the requests he will make is for his supporters not to vote for him.

Despite his withdrawal, his name will still be on the ballot paper and the votes garnered legally valid.

The contest for the Krian seat will now between Friday, Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Musa Dinggat and Danny Kuan of Parti Bumi Kenyalang. – December 11, 2021.