Sarawak polls: Major parties announce their candidates

Based on the list released after GPS chairman cum Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg presented the official letters of candidacy to the candidates at a closed-door event today, only the candidate for the Tellian seat has yet to be named.

GPS is contesting all the 82 state seats.

Abang Johari, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president himself will contest the Gedong seat, a major change after nine terms in Satok, since 1981.

GPS member party, Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP) will field its president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is also Bintulu Member of Parliament (MP), to contest in Dudong seat.

Another component party, Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) will field its president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian to retain his Batu Kawah seat, which he won in the 11th General Election (GE11) in 2016.

A new face, Nicholas Kudi Jantai Maseng, is the hope of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which is another component GPS component party, to retain the Baleh seat after the incumbent, who was also his uncle and party president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, died on Oct 31.

Masing had held the seat for eight terms since 1983.

Apart from Tiong and Nicholas Kudi, GPS also named 21 new faces as its candidates in the state election.

Even the unnamed candidate for Tellian is also expected to be yet another new face.

Based on the list, GPS will be represented by PBB in 47 seats, SUPP (18), PRS (11) and PDP (6).

Meanwhile, PKR, which had initially announced its intention to contest 49 seats, only named 27 candidates to be fielded in the state election on Dec 18.

Sarawak PKR Leadership Council secretary Joshua Jabeng said the announcement of the 27 candidates was made after the party decided to contest only the seats where they have higher chances of winning.

Among those in the PKR list are Sarawak PKR Leadership Council acting chairman Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh who will contest the Beting Maro seat and Joshua himself, for the Kakus seat.

PKR state election director Dominique Ng said the party, however, may make a last-minute change and add a few more names to the list.

Its ally in Pakatan Harapan (PH), DAP, which will be contesting 26 seats, had announced 18 names of its candidates on Nov 26, six yesterday and two others today.

DAP, which dominated the seats in the urban areas, will be fielding among others, its Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen in Padungan, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen in Batu Kawah and Violet Yong Wui Wui in Pending.

Other parties expected to contest in the state election, namely Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), PAS, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), however, have yet to announce their candidates.

Nomination for the state election is set on Dec 6.