KUCHING: As the son of former Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for the Tanjong Datu state seat in the 12th Sarawak state election, Azizul Anuar, is a well-known figure among the locals.

Although only 30, Azizul Anuar's popularity is not only due to the fact that he is the son of the late Adenan, but also for his involvement in local politics, said Universiti Malaya political analyst, Associate Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

Azizul Anuar is Tanjong Datu Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief.

"Azizul is well known in the Tanjong Datu constituency since his father's days in representing the area, then continued by his mother, Puan Sri Jamilah Anu, who was elected (as the Tanjong Datu state assemblywoman) after winning the by-election in 2017.

"Tok Nan's legacy was then continued by his wife, Jamilah who has brought many big changes, especially in terms of infrastructure development, with the completion of the road connecting the Pan Borneo to Telok Melano and various other facilities," he told Bernama.

On Saturday, Azizul Anuar will be up against Goem Pijar of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), Jery'in Fauzi of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Independent candidate Abdul Talip Ba'ee.

In the 11th state election in 2016, the late Adenan, affectionately known as 'Tok Nan', was elected as the Tanjong Datu seat assemblyman, representing Barisan Nasional (BN) for the third term.

Following Adenan's death on Jan 11, 2017, a by-election was held and Jamilah, contesting on a BN ticket, won the seat.

Awang said Azizul's chances of winning the seat were definitely higher than the PSB and PBK candidates.

"This is because the PBB has a complete, comprehensive and integrated machinery. In terms of membership, the PBB has larger numbers compared with PSB and PBK, as these two parties are still new and lack membership," he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) political analyst, Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan, said that the Tanjong Datu state seat was a Malay majority seat that had never been captured by any party other than the PBB.

-- BERNAMA