The Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) has decided on its choice of candidate for the Ba'Kelalan state by-election on Sept 18 but will leave it to the state Barisan Nasional to make a final decision before nomination day on Sept 9.

Disclosing this last night, party president William Mawan said the candidate was the party's best choice taking into account his working knowledge of the area which has about 8,000 voters, the majority of whom are Lun Bawang.

The candidate was also familiar with the development plans the late Dr Judson Tagal, the constituency's late state assemblyperson, and had a close affinity with the local community, he said. The by-election was called for following the death of Tagal in a helicopter crash recently.

"He is also a politician," Mawan added, though he declined to name the candidate until the state BN had decided on the issue.

But based on the outline provided by the party head, most observers agree that the prospective candidate is Nelson Ballang, a former bank officer turned private secretary to Tagal.

Their prediction is strengthened by the fact Ballang is a Lun Bawang, which comprise half the Ba'Kelalan electorate. The Lun Bawang are Sarawak's smallest ethnic group.

Working relationship

Mawan, who is also state Social Development and Urbanisation Minister, said SPDP had also submitted three other names, including that of a medical doctor and an active unionist, as options for the state BN to consider.

Malaysiakini understands that Sarawak Chief Minister and State BN Chairperson Taib Mahmud has generally endorsed the choice of Ballang as SPDP's by-election candidate.

Observers also point out that whoever is eventually selected, he would have to be someone who already has a good working relationship with BN's elected representatives from the Lawas area, particularly with Lawas state assemblyperson Awang Tengah Hassan, the state minister for Industrial Development and a powerful figure in Taib's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB).

The opposition Sarawak National Party (Snap) has also announced its intention of contesting the by-election and has indicated that it is studying a potential list of five names, mainly professionals, who are already quite well-known to the community.

There is a possibility of an Independent candidate also standing.

Campaigning in Ba'Kelalan is quite challenging given the area's hilly terrain. The fastest way to cover all of the area's highland settlements is by helicopter.

Important decision

Tagal was returned unopposed in the last two state elections and political observers say the BN should have little difficulty in winning this time around too.

The question is whether it will be a landslide victory or whether Snap, which once held the seat, could still muster enough support for an upset. The presence of an Independent would also determine how the votes would be spilt.

Mawan said SPDP had worked hard to gain the seat and that the Ba'Kelalan electorate's decision on who they want to represent them was 'extremely important' as it could make a difference in terms of development for this remote and isolated constituency in northern Sarawak.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.