PBB supreme council to decide on candidate for Balingian state seat

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak's largest Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, is to convene its Supreme Council meeting to decide on the BN candidate to contest the Balingian state seat to be vacated on Friday by outgoing Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

PBB secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi told Bernama Wednesday the party had begun preparing itself for the by-election after Abdul Taib announced that he would step down as the chief minister on Feb 28.

Abdul Taib, who has retained the Balingian seat since the 2001 state elections, said he would leave it to the incoming chief minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, to announce the BN candidate.

"We have anticipated it (Taib's plan to vacate the Balingian seat) and have made the necessary preparation ... and are confident of retaining the seat," said Rundi, who is also Sarawak BN secretary-general.

Meanwhile, Sarawak State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow to announce that the Balingian seat had become vacant.