PKR Miri branch chief eyes parliamentary seat

MIRI: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Miri branch chairman Dr Michael Teo has staked his claim on Miri parliamentary seat for the coming parliamentary elections due within two years.

Dr Teo had contested in the 2008 general election in the Sibuti seat against Ahmad Lai Bujang, and  in the 2006 state election in Senadin against Datuk Lee Kim Shin, where he lost both times.

“This time around, I decided to go for Miri parliamentary seat,” said PKR Miri branch chairman Dr Michael Teo yesterday (May 18).

Dr Teo justified his claim on his 12 years in politics here, compared to his counterparts in Democratic Action Party (DAP) who were considered ‘new’ in Miri.

“People already know me here, and I will have no problem relating to city folks in Miri,” said Dr Teo.

Another reason was what he described as PKR’s gift of the urban seat of Piasau to DAP newcomer Ling Sie Kiong, in exchange for the semi-rural seat of Senadin in the April 16 state election.

He claimed that the urban sentiment in Sarawak had changed to favour the opposition, and that anyone contesting urban seats under Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance was most likely to win.

He also admitted the difficulty in penetrating the rural areas of Sibuti and elsewhere in Sarawak, where voters are still more comfortable with Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I hope DAP will respect PKR’s wish in contesting in an urban seat here, and not take up all the urban seats just because they are easy to win,” he added.

With the closing date for filing election petition due tomorrow (May 20), Dr Teo had dropped his previous intention to dispute the Senadin election result after much hue and cry over the returning officer’s denial of recount.

If PKR gets to contest for Miri parliamentary seat, Dr Teo will be challenging Miri MP Dato Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui in the parliamentary election, if the incumbent is fielded.

PKR candidate drops Senadin polls petition

MIRI: Defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Miri candidate Dr Michael Teo has decided not to pursue his election petition for Senadin.

Dr Teo lost to the incumbent and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) candidate Datuk Lee Kim Shin by a narrow 58-vote majority in the April 16 state elections.

“I will congratulate Datuk Lee when I meet him again, and perhaps have a rematch with him in the next round,” he said yesterday.

Dr Teo and PKR supporters created an opposition outcry, claiming the party was denied a recount of votes in the close contest for the Miri seat despite repeated requests, triggering a two-hour confrontation with the returning officer at the tallying centre in the Miri Indoor Stadium on April 16.

He said the reason for dropping the petition was the high filing costs which could touch RM400,000, adding that he felt it may not be worth all his time and trouble as the chances of winning were not good going by precedents.

According to him, another important reason is the timing of the 13th general election — due in less than two years — and the appeal could easily take up one year or more.

By then, everyone would be too busy with the general election to help him with the petition, he said.

“I might as well spend that sort of money helping the poor Ibans — and just concentrate on preparing early for the general election,” added Dr Teo, who is also PKR Miri branch chief.

He is philosophical about his defeat, saying it was like a friendly match between old friends from two different political parties.

“When my son returns to help me run the clinic soon, I will be able to spend more time preparing for the general election,” he added.

He is leaving the choice of parliamentary seat he will be contesting to the top PR leadership.