KUCHING: As the state election looms around the corner, many aspiring candidates have shown their interest to contest by either lobbying for the seats from the four Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties or by joining opposition parties, especially those in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Roland Sagah
However, in Tarat constituency, its three-term assemblyman Roland Sagah Wee Inn is expected to face a challenge from an independent.
A source told The Borneo Post here yesterday that a well-known businessman from the area is expected to give Sagah a run for his money.
The businessman’s interest is fuelled by the possibility that if he wins the seat he would join the BN — as precedence had been set by Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong, who stood as a Sarawak National Party (SNAP) candidate, but now safely lodged with the BN through SUPP.
Immediately after leaving SNAP, Dr Rayong became a BN friendly assemblyman until his recent acceptance from the very party he had defeated.
“Furthermore, if he (businessman) wins, he can either apply to join the BN just like Dr Rayong or become a direct BN assemblyman, without joining any existing BN component party.
“Both ways, it would be a big boost for him especially whenever he goes to the ground to meet the people,” the source told The Borneo Post said.
The source added that the businessman was serious with his intention to go for the seat as Sagah’s popularity was said to have dipped due to many factors.
Recently, Sagah, a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member, had shown his outburst towards the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) for making an inroad into his constituency.
So far SPDP has not replied or rebutted Sagah’s allegation.
“That episode showed that Sagah is nervous about his seat,” added the source.
Recently, a Bidayuh top political leader Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong had warned that the six Bidayuh seats namely Tarat, Tebedu, Kedup, Bengoh, Tasik Biru and Opar would face a tough challenge from the opposition, especially Parti KeAdilan Rakyat (PKR) in the coming state election.
But this time around, with the possibility of independent candidates selling the idea that they are actually representing BN or will join it once they win their respective seats it would be even tougher for all the incumbents of the six Bidayuh seats to rebut.
“In fact the latest flaw in the BN will only encourage many aspirants to try their luck as independent candidates rather than joining the main opposition parties in the coming state election,” added the source.
The state election is expected to be held before July next year as the current state assembly will expire then.