KUCHING: The 12th Sarawak State Election, which began today with the nomination process, saw 45 of the total of 349 candidates, or 12.9 per cent, being women.

Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) is the party with the most female candidates at 13, followed by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) (10); Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi) (six); PKR (five); Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) (four); DAP (four) and Parti Amanah Negara (one). There are also two Independent women candidates.

Among the big names contesting are Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah from GPS, who will defend the Dalat seat, and Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, also from GPS, defending the Samariang seat.

Meanwhile, Violet Yong Wui Wui from DAP is also set to defend the Pending seat, while Datuk Rosey Yunus has been renominated by GPS for the Bekenu seat.

Aspirasi president, Lina Soo will be contesting the Padungan seat.

In the meantime, young candidates and new faces from GPS are Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor, who will contest in the Lingga seat, while PSB is fielding Intanurazean Wan Sapuan Daud in the Nangka seat, and PKR is fielding Cherishe Ng Phuay Hui in Batu Lintang.

For PBK, among the party's women candidates are Lim Lian Hun in Bukit Kota, Priscilla Lau in Bukit Assek and Tiew Yen Houng in Pelawan.

-- BERNAMA