Electoral rolls, nomination, early voting, and polling dates will be finalised during the special meeting
State Election Commission director Datuk Takun Sunggah looking at an old ballot box on display at the ‘Semarak Pilihan Raya’ exhibition. The five-day exhibition which ends this Friday is organised by the Sarawak branch of the National Archives Department at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar in Kuching. — Bernama photo
KUCHING: The nation’s political spotlight will be on Kuching this coming Thursday as the Election Commission (EC) convenes a special meeting to discuss the 11th state election.
This follows the dissolution of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly yesterday to pave the way for the state polls that will have 82 seats up for grabs, an increase of 11 seats when compared to the last election in 2011.
EC’s eagerly awaited meeting will be held in Dewan Muhibbah at Merdeka Palace Hotel. It will start at 9.30am and chaired by EC chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah
EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said in a press statement yesterday that the meeting would decide on the dates for nomination, early voting, and polling. It would also finalise the electoral rolls to be used and preparations to conduct the election.
“The EC chairman will hold a press conference after the meeting,” said Abdul Ghani.
Under Article 21 (4) of the State Constitution, a general election must be held within 60 days after the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved, and the new State Legislative Assembly must convene on a date not later than 120 days from the date of dissolution.
Meanwhile, with the announcement on Saturday that Dr Johnical Rayong would be a direct BN candidate to defend Engkilili, the number of ‘filled’ BN seats now stands at 57.
This leaves aspiring candidates on tenterhooks for the remaining 25 seats. Of these 25 seats, eight are PBB seats; eight (SPDP/Teras), seven (SUPP/UPP) and two seats for direct BN candidates.
The remaining eight PBB seats are Muara Tuang, Simunjan, Kalaka, Kabong, Daro, Jemoreng, Katibas and Bukit Goram.
The eight SPDP/Teras seats are Tasik Biru, Krian, Pakan, Meluan, Marudi, Mulu, Batu Danau and Ba kelalan. The seven SUPP/UPP seats are Opar, Meradong, Dudong, Bawang Assan, Palawan, Tanjung Batu (formerly known as Kidurong) and Pujut.
The two seats that will see direct BN candidates are Serembu and Bukit Semuja.
For some of these seats, it is likely their former assemblymen will be fielded, namely Ranum Mina for Opar, Datuk Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz (Kalaka), Dr Murni Suhaili (Daro), Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (Pakan), Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan), Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran (Marudi) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau).
Speculations are rife that the candidates for several of the remaining 17 seats are PBB supreme council member Datuk Idris Buang for Muara Tuang, lawyer Kilat Beriak (Krian), former Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya (Jemoreng), businessman James Wong (Meradong), Datuk Tiong Thai King (Dudong), Dato Janet Lau (Palawan), newcomer Jefferson Jamit (Bukit Goram), former Senator Datuk Pau Chiong Ung might be fielded as a direct BN candidate in Tanjung Batu (formerly known as Kidurong), businessman Dato Hii King Chiong (Pujut) and former assemblyman Datuk Nelson Balang Rining (Ba Kelalan).
And as for the two new Bidayuh majority seats of Bukit Semuja and Serembu, Adenan had announced that the BN would field direct candidates. However, there are still no obvious candidates to be fielded there. But in Serembu, Datuk Anthony Abang of SPDP, Miro Simuh of PBB and former high-ranking police officer Datuk Peter Nyomek Nyeap are said to be racing neck-to-neck for the right to use the ‘dacing’ symbol.
The same is also true in Bukit Semuja, where radiologist Dr Eric Marcel Munjan and Serian Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) John Ilus are vying for the coveted ‘dacing’ symbol, but SUPP had made a last ditch effort to claim the seat following a function in Koran Mawang last Saturday, where potential candidates Maclister Richard and Mejar (R) Peter Runin were present. Elsewhere, it remains a mystery who would be fielded in Simunjan, Kabong, Meluan, Katibas, and Mulu.
State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar, meanwhile, said a caretaker government would administer the state following the dissolution of the assembly.
He said the caretaker government would function as the usual government. “The caretaker government cannot approve projects,” he told Bernama and RTM at his office here yesterday.
The chief minister and cabinet would continue to serve until the appointment of a new government by the Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in accordance with Article 6 (3)(b)(i)(ii) of the Sarawak state constitution.