PETALING JAYA: Five-term Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah reiterated this evening that he was prepared to step aside if not named as a candidate for the upcoming Sarawak state election.
The state tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister said, however, that he would leave the decision to his party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
“I'm prepared to give up (the seat). But if the party and the people in the constituency still feel that my services are needed, then we cannot say no,” Dayak Daily quoted him as saying.
Earlier today, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg, who announced that the state assembly will be dissolved on Oct 26 to pave the way for an election, said the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will field a mix of new faces and experienced leaders.
The GPS chairman noted that some elected representatives have chosen to step down on their own accord, stressing that “some incumbents are not being dropped, but instead choosing to step aside”.
In August, Karim said he was ready to make way for new leaders after nearly 25 years in politics.
He said he had told Abang Johari that he believed he had served long enough, having reached a significant milestone in his political career.
Karim first won the Asajaya seat in the 2001 Sarawak election and has retained the constituency in every election since.