Barisan Nasional (BN) strongman Awang Tengah Ali Hassan remarked that although the Opposition leaders belonged to the same coalition, they failed to work together as a team.

They had failed just like when they were part of Pakatan Rakyat, the previous coalition that eventually collapsed.

“They are at war with each other. Pakatan Harapan will never be able to give ‘harapan’ to the rakyat.

“Is this the form of leadership that gives us hope? They can’t even settle their own disputes. So how can they form a government?” Awang told the media when met at the PBB headquarters here today.

Awang, who won the Bukit Sari seat uncontested, said Sarawakians should realise by now that whatever hope for change that the Opposition leaders had promised to bring to the state would likely come to nought.

“They may flip-flop and try to influence people’s thoughts, but in reality they will never be able to bring about real change.”

At present, both Sarawak DAP and Sarawak PKR are engaged in multi-cornered fights in six state seats, namely Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Mambong, Ngemah and Batu Kitang, going against the agreement signed by their national leaders to avoid overlapping claims.

The Mulu seat will see Paul Raja of DAP going against Paul Baya of PKR after both submitted their nomination papers yesterday.

In Batu Kitang, Voon Shiak Ni of PKR will face her Opposition counterpart Abdul Aziz Isa of DAP.

Abdul Aziz was originally picked for Stakan, but the sudden change to Batu Kitang has largely been regarded as a retaliatory move following PKR’s refusal to allow Sarawak DAP to contest in the remaining disputed seats.

DAP claimed that it had reached an agreement to let PKR contest in Batu Kitang, provided it returned the favour by allowing DAP candidates to contest in the five seats with overlapping claims – Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Mambong and Ngemah.