PKR Sarawak’s sole woman candidate ‘really excited’ about GE13

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Cecilia Siti Una

KUCHING: Cecilia Siti Una – Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR’s) sole woman candidate for the 13th general election in Sarawak – is ‘really excited’ to have been selected to stand in Betong.

The 60-year-old first-time candidate could not conceal the trembling in her voice yesterday after PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced six more of the party’s candidates.

“I am so far the only woman candidate for PKR and also the first woman candidate to contest in Betong. It will mark my first time contesting in an election,” she told journalists.

Cecilia, who served as a nurse in Betong for six years before being transferred to the Sarawak General Hospital, said she is no stranger to Betong.

“Betong is my home town and I know it very well. And I believe the support from women is for me as well.”

According to her, Betong folk could not escape Native Customary Rights (NCR) worries and struggled to make ends meet.

“Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu is from Betong and has been in power for many, many years. People in Betong want change as they still face NCR land issues and poverty,” she claimed.

Cecilia, who is also PKR Sarawak Women’s vice-chief, said there is a possibility the party could field another woman in the upcoming
polls.

“We are hoping to get Stampin, so that more of our women can stand a chance to contest,” she said.

Stampin is one of five disputed seats between PKR and the Democratic Action Party (DAP), with the other overlapping seats being Mas Gading, Mambong, Sri Aman and Miri.

PKR also has overlapping claims with its other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partner PAS in Kota Samarahan and Julau.

There are over 26,000 voters in Betong, which covers the Saribas, Layar, and Bukit Saban state seats.

In the 2008 parliamentary election, Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas retained Betong for Barisan Nasional (BN) after defeating the Sarawak Nasional Party’s Edmund Stanley Jugol with a majority of 11,709 votes.

Uggah, who is Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, garnered 13,708 votes while Stanley only managed 1,999 votes.