KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) today announced the candidates who will contest the 31 parliamentary seats in Sarawak in the 15th general election (GE15).

The combined list of candidates from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak(PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) was announced by GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in a ceremony here.

Abang Johari said GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and PBB vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will respectively defend their Kapit and Petra Jaya seats.

Meanwhile, PBB women's wing vice head Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri will move from the Batang Sadong seat to Santubong, replacing the incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Apart from this, PRS president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum has been nominated again to contest in Julau while PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing will defend his Bintulu seat whereas Datuk Willie Mongin was nominated to defend the Puncak Borneo seat.

Abang Johari said the GPS candidates this time around feature a combination of experienced and 14 fresh faces as well as five women candidates.

"The GPS candidates comprise experienced, middle-aged and young candidates," he added.

The Election Commission (EC) has set polling day for GE15 on Nov 19, with nomination day this Saturday (Nov 5) and early voting on Nov 15.

-- BERNAMA