NGO makes rare move of backing candidates from rival parties

NGO makes rare move of backing candidates from rival parties

MOCS founder says the group will support those worthy of the people's votes.

Movement for Change Sarawak founder Francis Paul Siah says the people should teach parties that did not put out the right candidates a lesson.
KUCHING:
In a rare move, an activist group is endorsing individual candidates deemed “honest and decent” from both sides of the political divide in the Sarawak state elections.

Movement for Change Sarawak (MOCS) founder Francis Paul Siah said the NGO would back candidates whose credibility made them worthy of the people’s votes.

“Don’t just vote along party lines but evaluate the candidates,” he urged voters in an interview with FMT.

Siah said it was important for voters to base their evaluation of candidates on the statements they made and their involvement in the local community.

If political parties did not put out the right candidates, he said, the people should “teach them a lesson” by abstaining from voting.

Siah presented Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Batu Lintang candidate See Chee How with a letter of endorsement yesterday, the fourth contestant in the state polls to earn the honour.

MOCS has previously endorsed Lambir candidate Zulhaidah Suboh and Mulu candidate Roland Engan of PKR as well as Piasau incumbent Sebastian Ting of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP).

Siah said the group would also be endorsing candidates from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and DAP.

Sarawak goes to the polls on Dec 18 with early voting on Dec 14.

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