A former judge is among eight legal eagles in the list of the opposition Barisan Bersatu Sarawak (BBS) candidates who will be contesting the 29 Dayak majority seats under Snap ticket in the May 20 state election.

They will collectively take on the other Dayak-based parties - PRS and SPDP - which are part of the ruling BN coalition.

Augustine Liom, 50, who started his career in the state legal department in 1977 and has served as deputy public prosecutor, Legal Aid Bureau assistant director, session court judge and chairperson of Sarawak industrial court until he resigned in 2004, will be contesting the Tamin state seat against BN's Joseph Mauh, a former MP, from PRS.

His name was among the list of 54 BBS candidates announced by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at state PKR headquarters in Matang, Kuching, this afternoon.

Of the 29 candidates for the Dayak majority areas, MDC has nominated 18 and Snap the rest. They will all stand under one party symbol Snap, following the failure of MDC to get itself registered in time for election, in spite of having applied a year ago to the Registrar of Societies.

PKR has named 25 candidates, including four non-bumiputeras in Chinese majority seats (Padungan, Batu Kawah, Senadin and Piasau).

Star to stay out

State Reform Party (Star) which is not part of the opposition alliance is not fielding any candidate.

Its president Dr Patau Rubis in a press statement said it had not been able to arrive a last-minute compromise with BBS to avoid a three-cornered fight.

To avoid being a spoiler, he added, the party had decided not to join the election this time

DAP, which is also not part of the pact, is contesting in 12 Chinese majority seats. Meanwhile, PAS will contest one seat - Beting Maro.

This is the first time in the history of Sarawak that opposition parties have managed to agree to avoid contesting against each other.

Former deputy chief minister and president of the now defunct PBDS Daniel Tajem has been named as Snap candidate for Bukit Begunan where he will face BN's incumbent Mong Dagang from PRS.

MDC protem president Nicholas Bawin will stand in Batang Ai against BN's incumbent and state assistant minister Dublin Unting.

His deputy, Dr Johnical Rayong Ak Ngipa, will contest in Engkilili against BN's new face Jonathan Krai Pilo, son of an Iban community leader Temenggong Michael Pilo.

Orang Ulu NCR lawyer Baru Bian will be contesting in Ba'kelalan against the BN's incumbent Nelson Balang.

A Bidayuh lawyer and a former parliamentary secretary, Patrick Anek, will contest in the new seat of Opar against BN-Supp's Ranum Mina.

A Sri Aman-based Iban lawyer Peli Aron is the Snap candidate for Simanggang where he will take on BN-Supp's Francis Harden, a state assistant minister.

Azizah: Time for change

Snap president Edwin Dundang will contest in the new seat of Bukit Saban to face BN-PBB's Robert Lawson Chuat, a relative of deputy chief minister and PBB deputy chief minister Alfred Jabu.

Snap deputy president Justine Jinggut will not be contesting in Meluan and instead a former district officer, Dr Ambrose Labang, will be contesting on Snap ticket against BN-SPDP's Wong Judat in Meluan.

Lawyer Anthony Liman will contest in Kakus against BN-PRS incumbent John Sikie.

Snap secretary-general Edmund Stanley Jugol will contest in Krian against SPDP deputy president and state assistant minister Peter Nyarok, and his son Dayrell Walter Entrie, a lawyer, will take on Jabu in Layar.

Another lawyer Christopher Sawan ak Jiram will contest in the new seat of Batu Danau against BN-SPDP's Paulus Gumbang.

A former PBB leader and former state assemblyperson, Kebing Wan, will contest on Snap ticket in Telang Usan against the BN-PBB's incumbent Lihan Jok.

Wan Azizah told a media conference after releasing the BBS list of candidates said she hoped the voters in Sarawak would come out in full force on May 20 and vote, adding that it was time for change in Sarawak.

BBS accused the the present chief minister of neglecting to look after the interests of the majority of the people as he had only been interested creating Sarawak as his personal fiefdom for the benefit of his own family members.

Nomination for Sarawak's 9th state elections is tomorrow and polling on May 20.