Two Sarawak assistant ministers closely linked to PBB deputy president Abang Johari Tun Openg may not be nominated to defend their state seats in the coming elections.

The duo - PBB Wanita leader Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi and Demak Laut division head Dr Rauf Abang Zen who are approaching 60 - may be dropped to make way for younger leaders.

Even Johari (right), 56, the state housing minister seen as the Malay political leader in Kuching, appears to be unusually quiet in recent months on the political front, preferring to go about his ministerial duties.

Johari and PBB senior vice-president Adenan Satem are locked in an open tussle for the coveted chief minister's post after the retirement of Abdul Taib Mahmud. Adenan is said to be favoured by Taib as his successor.

The talk within PBB circles is that the two assistant ministers will be replaced by Adenan's men in what has been described by an observer as a 'game of political intrigues'.

There was also speculation that Johari, son of Sarawak's first post-Independence governor Tun Abang Haji Openg may be offered a senior position either in Kuala Lumpur or overseas.

Marginalised in party

Johari could not be reached for comment, but his supporters are saying the party still needs him and there has been no talk that he will not contest again.

"But he does appear to be marginalised in the party," according to an observer, who noted that less senior leaders, including Adenan appear to be calling the shots in the party in the absence of Taib.

A close associate of Rauf, a medical doctor-turned-politician, said: "Rauf has indicated he is unaware of what's going on."

Adenan recently attended the wedding ceremony of Wan Hamzah, a graduate businessman, leading to talk that he is the most likely candidate for the Demak Laut state assembly seat in the event Rauf is pressured to step down.

Sharifah has been involved with the party since the early 70's. Talk is that PBB Youth deputy chief Karim Hamzah, the state assemblyperson for Asajaya, is said to be interested in Samariang held by Sharifah since1987.

Both are Malays but she is approaching 60 and he is only 45 and described by many as highly ambitious and impatient. Karim is a political secretary to the chief minister and a lawyer by training.

The Samariang seat is right in the Kuching Malay heartland comprising the kampungs on the north bank of Sungai Sarawak and is regarded as a bastion of Kuching Malays.

Uphill battle

In the 2001 state elections, Sharifah won the seat with a big majority in a four-cornered fight that also involved PKR, PAS and an Independent. Semariang is a 90 percent Malay seat.

"Sharifah, the daughter of Sarawak's first iman after Independence, has been active in the constituency and is popular among Kuching Malay women," according to a party member.

"But she knows with her age and so many aspiring younger candidates, she has indicated it will be up to the party leadership to decide whether she should be re-nominated as candidate," he added.

PBB, the backbone of the state's four-member ruling coalition, is possibly the only party that is seen as unassailable in all the 27 Malay/Melanau seats out of the total 71 seats in the coming elections.

Malay-based opposition parties, PKR and PAS, are generally seen as facing an uphill battle to try and unseat any of the PBB candidates.