Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi
KUCHING: The name of the Barisan Nasional (BN)candidate for the Tanjong Datu by-election is expected to be announced on Feb 1, three days before the nomination day.
State BN and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) secretary general Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the announcement will be made by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg. He also revealed that four potential candidates have been shortlisted so far and PBB is now in the process of getting feedback from the ground as to who will be the most suitable candidate.
“The party wants to get the full report on the ground before making the announcement,” he said. The by-election is called following the demise of the incumbent assemblyman and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem on Jan 11 from heart complications.
Dr Rundi also said the candidate picked to contest in the by-election might not be Adenan’s widow Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu or one of his two sons.
“Depending on the feedback on the ground, the party may pick someone else,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is state BN acting chairman and PBB acting president, was recently quoted as saying that PBB was not in a hurry to decide on the name.
The Election Commission (EC) announced Feb 18 as the by-election date for Tanjong Datu. Nomination day will be Feb 4, while early voting is on Feb 12.
The by-election could be won uncontested by BN after both Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) indicated they will not contest there as a mark of respect for the late Adenan and to focus their attention on the coming 14th General Election (GE14).
Adenan had represented Tanjong Datu since 2006, after being the assemblyman for Muara Tuang from 1978.
In the May 7, 2016 state election, Adenan retained the Tanjong Datu seat when he defeated Jazolkipli Numan of PKR by 5,892 votes. He polled 6,360 votes against 468 by Jazolkipli who also lost his deposit.
Based on the latest electoral roll, Tanjong Datu has 9,899 registered voters comprising 53.2 per cent Malays, 18.6 per cent Ibans, 17.6 per cent Chinese, 10.1 per cent Bidayuh, 0.2 per cent Orang Ulu and others 0.3 per cent.