BN wins Bukit Kota and Bukit Sari uncontested; Election Commission happy with orderly and peaceful submission of nomination papers
Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah (File Photo)
KUCHING: Barisan Nasional (BN) is already two seats up even before the candidates officially hit the campaign trail as its candidates won uncontested in the two northern seats of Bukit Kota and Bukit Sari .
Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah who made the announcement said candidates Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (Bukit Kota) and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan (Bukit Sari) won these DUN seats when nominations closed at 10am.
PKR was supposed to contest in both these seats but its candidate for Bukit Sari did not turn up while its Bukit Kota candidate was disqualified.
A total of 229 nomination papers were submitted to the 82 nomination centres across the state.
Of the total, the commission recorded 82 nomination papers from BN, 40 from PKR, 31 from Democratic Action Party (DAP), 11 from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), 13 from Parti Amanah Negara (PAN), 11 from State Reformed Party (STAR), five from Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), and 36 independent candidates.
However two nomination papers were rejected because the candidates did not meet EC requirements.
This happened to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate at the nomination centre for Pantai Damai and an independent candidate at the nomination centre for Kuala Rajang.
Only 22 out of the 229 candidates are women and the youngest candidate is 25-years-old while the oldest, 73.
Five seats Batu Kitang, Bukit Semuja, Dudong, Bawang Assan and Jepak will have five candidates while 35 seats will see straight fights, 28 seats will see three -cornered fights and 15 seats will be a four-way tussle.
The squabble for seats between DAP and PKR was not resolved and the two parties would clash in Batu Kitang, Mambong , Bukit Semuja, Simanggang, Mulu and Murum.
This 11th State Election is also said to be an acid test for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem among the Chinese voters with the result at Padungan the main yardstick as 94 per cent of the 22,301 registered voters in Padungan are Chinese. The other 14 Chinese dominant seats are Pending, Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah in the Southern Region as well as Repok, Meradong, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Bawang Assan and Pelawan (Central Region) and Tanjong Batu, Piasau and Pujut (Northern Region).
The Bumiputera voters at numerous rural seats are expected to root for Adenan and his BN candidates. These voters can be found at 28 Malay / Melanau-majority seats; 22 Iban-majority seats; seven Bidayuh-majority seats; five Orang Ulu-majority seats and five mixed seats. The mixed seats are Stakan, Bukit Semuja, Bekenu, Lambir and Senadin.
Four seats have been renamed during the last delineation exercise. They are Mambong (fomerly Bengoh); Batang Ai (formerly Batang Air); Kuala Rajang (formerly Belawai) and Tanjong Batu (formerly Kidurong).
The 11 new seats are Stakan, Gedong, Tellian, Kabong, Mulu, Murum, Bukit Goram, Samalaju, Bukit Semuja, Serembu and Batu Kitang.
Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah described the nomination day in all 82 centres as calm and peaceful, as contesting party members and supporters were friendly with one another.
He said there were no untoward incidents reports received, saying besides shouts of cheers and support for their candidates, which were normal, and supporters patiently waited for nomination results announcement by returning officers.
“This is Sarawak, where we can see peaceful, harmony and smooth nomination process. All the party members and supporters are calm and they follow all rules set by EC,” he said.
Campaigning period is officially began after nomination yesterday and ends at 12 midnight on May 6.
The first result of the election is expected to be released earliest by 6pm with total results to be known by 11pm on May 7. Early voting will be held on May 3.
He said EC had appointed local 62 observers from local non-government organisations to monitor the election process.
The EC had also set up an election enforcement team to monitor the conducts of and activities of candidates during campaigning period.
Mohd Hashim said those wishing to check on their polling centres and stations can go to www. spr.gov.my or text EC by typing SPR<space> SEMAK <space>Mykad number and send to 15888 .
The public can also contact EC on 03-88927000 or its Sarawak office at 082-254233 or 082-254867.