Why did Wan Junaidi urge PAS and Bersatu to avoid Sarawak polls?

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Wan Junaidi Urged PAS and Bersatu to Avoid Sarawak Polls to Maintain Government Unity and Prevent Seat Contention

Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar urged PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) not to contest in the Sarawak state elections to avoid a direct competition for seats with the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition. This abstention, he argued, would serve as a demonstration of unity among the component parties of the federal government, fostering a more cohesive relationship at both federal and state levels.
Preventing Seat Contention with GPS

Wan Junaidi's primary concern was to prevent PAS and Bersatu from contesting against Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP), and Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP). He believes that such contests would lead to an unnecessary struggle for seats among political allies, undermining the spirit of cooperation that should exist within the governing coalition.
Demonstrating Unity within the Government

By not contesting in Sarawak, PAS and Bersatu would symbolically reinforce the unity of the government at the federal level. Wan Junaidi stated that as partners in a political movement, all parties within the government should support one another rather than competing amongst themselves. He cited the historical precedent of Umno, which has traditionally not contested in Sarawak, as an example of such a practice.
Fostering Intimate and Equitable State-Level Relations

The minister suggested that PAS and Bersatu refraining from contesting would allow for a more "intimate and equitable" relationship at the state level, complementing the existing cooperation at the federal level. This would strengthen the overall bond between the peninsula-based parties and their Sarawakian counterparts within the governing coalition.
Confirmation of Intent from PAS and Bersatu Leaders

Wan Junaidi indicated that leaders from both PAS and Bersatu had personally communicated their intention not to contest in the Sarawak state elections to him. While acknowledging that no one is legally barred from contesting in a democratic system, he stressed that any such contests would signify a lack of unity in spirit among the government's coalition partners.

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Why did Wan Junaidi urge PAS and Bersatu to avoid Sarawak polls?

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