BALINGIAN The name of the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Balingian by-election, Yussibnosh Balo, is still proving to be a mouthful among top BN leaders and media folk, alike.

At a public function held immediately after the nomination yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin took some time to pronounce the name, and several times during his speech.

Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem prefers to address him as Balo. Other leaders pronounce the BN candidate’s name as ‘Yussibenosh’.

The name appears to be a constant topic of interest among the media.

When met by Bernama last Saturday, the man himself said that his father had wanted to name him afer an Italian saint named Eusebius, which is also a Christian name.

Somehow, when his father went to the National Registration office to register his birth, the dutiful officer concerned, perhaps out of sheer ignorance or hard of hearing, simply put the name as Yussibnosh.

Meanwhile, Yussibnosh hit the campaign trail today, with a visit to a grieving family in his Kampung Tellian neighbourhood.

His wife, Elizabeth Nelson, an Iban from Simunjan in the Samarahan Division, gamely accompanied the state Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah, at a function in Kampung Teh.

“I want her to meet the voters for them to know her. Just personal greetings and exchanging pleasantries, especially the women voters. That is fine enough to begin with,” Fatimah told reporters.

Yussibnosh and Elizabeth have seven children, including two twins.

Elizabeth said relatives were giving a helping hand to mind the children.

She said she fully supported her husband’s entry into politics and was prepared for the sacrifices and challenges ahead.

- Bernama