BN fields 19 new faces, one seat undecided

Sarawak BN will be fielding at least 19 new candidates for the
upcoming state elections, announced state BN publicity chief Adenan Satem.

However, the candidate for the Ba'Kelalan seat has yet to be announced.

"It is a mystery candidate for Ba'Kelalan," said Adenan (in grey jacket) during a packed press conference at the PBB headquarters.

According to SPDP sources, a survey conducted among the potential candidates revealed that incumbent Nelson Balang was not withstand a challenge from Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian.
 
"Balang found to be trailing Baru, a well known local boy from Ba'Kelalan," said the sources.
 
Initially, SPDP leadership agreed to nominate Balang to defend Ba'Kelalan, but decided against fielding him later due to unfavourable feedback.

Will Idris Jala be fielded?
 
The BN leadership is trying to field someone of better standing than Baru, who is well known for his legal work with native groups over native customary rights (NCR) land issues.

Among the names being considered by the BN leadership is said to be Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala.
 
"It is doubtful whether Idris is willing to challenge Baru as both are good buddies," said the sources.

The allocation of seats to all component parties remain at status quo - Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) 35, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) 19, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) 9 and Sarawak Progressiv Democratic Party (SPDP) 8.

"There is no dispute with the component parties on the allocation of seats, unlike some other people we know," said Adenan.

Another name being mentioned is Sarawak Teacher's Union head William Ghani Bina.

Minor surprises

Interestingly, Pelagus state assemblyperson Larry Sng, who is without a party, has been dropped as a candidate.

Sng remained the assistant minister in the chief minister's department despite being sacked from PRS in 2006 after a coup attempt against PRS president James Masing.

Another big name that was dropped was State Legislative Assembly Speaker Asfia Awang Nasar, a close ally of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Engineer Abdullah Sahidol is replacing him in Semop.

Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Soon Choon Teck was also dropped.

His place is taken over by Sibu Municipal Council chairman Tiong Thai King, who is also Lanang MP.

It is understood that Soon was dropped because he fell out of favour with the SUPP leadership.

Party chiefs to defend seats

Meanwhile, all four Sarawak BN component party members would be defending their respective seats, with three of them doing so for a fifth time.

PBB chief Abdul Taib Mahmud would be defending the Balingian for a second time. He won first won the seat in 2001. He is now 74 years of age and has been chief minister for 30 years.

Three other component party leaders - SUPP president Dr George Chan (Piasau), PBDS president William Mawan and PRS president James Masing - would be defending their respective seats for their sixth term.

Taib was not present at the press conference, much to the disappointment of about 100 media practitioners, an estimated half are from peninsula Malaysia, who had waited for two hours for the event.

Taib arrived at the PBB headquarters in a left-hand drive maroon Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II, which according to Wikipedia was produced between 1977 and 1980.

The full list of BN candidates are as follows (*denotes new face):

N1 Opar - Ranum Mina (SUPP)
N2 Tasik Biru Peter Nansian Ngusie (SPDP)
N3 Tanjong Datu - Adenan Satem (PBB)
N4 Pantai Damai Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (PBB)
N5 Demak Laut - Dr Hazland Abang Hipni (PBB) *
N6 Tupong Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman (PBB)
N7 Samariang - Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (PBB)
N8 Satok - Amar Abang Johari Openg (PBB)
N9 Padungan - Sim Kiang Chiok (SUPP) *
N10 Pending - Dr Sim Kui Hian (SUPP) *
N11 Batu Lintang - Sih Hua Tong (SUPP) *
N12 Kota Sentosa - Datuk Alfred Yap Chin Loi (SUPP) *
N13 Batu Kawah - Tan Joo Phoi (SUPP)
N14 Asajaya - Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (PBB)
N15 Muara Tuang - Mohammad Ali Mahmud (PBB)
N16 Bengoh - Dr Jerip Susil (SUPP)
N17 Tarat - Roland Sagah (PBB)
N18 Tebedu - Michael Manyin Jawong (PBB)
N19 Kedup - Maclaine Ben @ Martin Ben (PBB) *
N20 Sadong Jaya - Aidel Lariwoo (PBB) *
N21 Simunjan - Mohd Naroden Majais (PBB)
N22 Sebuyau - Julaihi Narawi (PBB)
N23 Lingga - Simoi Peri (PBB)
N24 Beting Maro - Razaili Gapor (PBB)*
N25 Balai Ringin - Snowdan Donald Lawan (PRS)
N26 Bukit Begunan - Mong Dagang (PRS)
N27 Simanggang - Francis Harden Hollis (SUPP)
N28 Engkilili - Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (SUPP)
N29 Batang Ai - Malcom Mussen Lamoh (PRS)
N30 Saribas - Ricky @ Mohd Razi Sitam (PBB) *
N31 Layar - Alfred Jabu Numpang (PBB)
N32 Bukit Saban - Robert Lawson Chuat Vincent Entering (PBB)
N33 Kalaka - Abdul Wahab Aziz (PBB)
N34 Krian - Peter Nyarok Entrie (SPDP)
N35 Belawai - Len Talif Salleh (PBB) *
N36 Semop - Abdullah Saidol (PBB) *
N37 Daro - Murni Suhaili (PBB)
N38 Jemoreng - Gani @ Abu Seman (PBB)
N39 Repok - David Teng Lung Chi (SUPP)
N40 Meradong - Ling Kie King (SUPP) *
N41 Pakan - William Mawan Ikom (SPDP)
N42 Meluan - Wong Judat (SPDP)
N43 Ngemah - Alexander Vincent (PRS)
N44 Machan - Gramong Juna (PBB)
N45 Bukit Assek - Chieng Buong Toon (SUPP) *
N46 Dudong - Tiong Thai King (SUPP) *
N47 Bawang Assan - Wong Soon Koh (SUPP)
N48 Pelawan - Goh Chung Siong (SUPP)
N49 Nangka - Annuar Rapa'ee (PBB) *
N50 Dalat - Fatimah Abdullah @ Ting Sai Ming (PBB)
N51 Balingian - Abdul Taib Mahmud (PBB)
N52 Tamin - Joseph Mauh Ikeh (PRS)
N53 Kakus - John Sikei Tayai (PRS)
N54 Pelagus - Stanley Nyitar @ Unja Malang (PRS) *
N55 Katibas - Ambrose Blikau Enturan (PBB)
N56 Baleh - James Jemut Masing (PRS)
N57 Belaga - Liwan Lagang (PRS)
N58 Jepak - Talip Zulpilip (PBB)
N59 Kidurong - Ling Kuong Meng (SUPP) *
N60 Kemena - Stephen Rundi Utom (PBB)
N61 Bekenu - Rosey Yunus (SPDP)
N62 Lambir - Ripin Lamat (PBB) *
N63 Piasau - Dr George Chan Hong Nam (SUPP)
N64 Pujut - Andy Chia Chu Fatt (SUPP)
N65 Senadin - Lee Kim Shin (SUPP)
N66 Marudi - Sylvester Entri Ak Muran (SPDP)
N67 Telang - Usan Dennis Ngau (PBB) *
N68 Bukit Kota - Abdul Rahman Ismail (PBB)
N69 Batu Danau - Palu @ Paulus Gumbang (SPDP)
N70 Ba' Kelalan (SPDP 'mystery' candidate)
N71 Bukit Sari - Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan (PBB)