Party fields three state assemblymen in quest to win back six seats from opposition
Abang Johari (third left, front row) with (from right, front row) Awang Tengah, Tiong, Uggah, Masing, Dr Sim and others give the thumbs-up during a photo call. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) faces the heaviest task among the state Barisan Nasional (BN) parties in the coming general election (GE-14) as it has to win back all the six seats held by the opposition.
To do that, the party is pulling out all stops to wrest these urban and sub-urban parliamentary seats by fielding three state assemblymen among its candidates.
The most notable among them is party president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian who has taken up the gauntlet against state DAP and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman in Stampin.
Abang Johari (third right) joins hands with (from right) Uggah, Dr Sim, Masing, Tiong and Awang Tengah in a show of unity.
The other two are Repok assemblyman Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii who will contest in Sarikei against incumbent Andrew Wong of DAP and Datuk Sebastian Ting, the Piasau state assemblyman who has been tasked to oust Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) incumbent Dr Michael Teo.
Ting was the BN-SUPP candidate for Miri in the 2013 general election but lost to Dr Teo by 1,992 votes.
SUPP will not have any problem retaining Serian, the only parliamentary seat it won in the last general election as the incumbent Dato Seri Richard Riot is not expected to face any problem defending his seat.
The other BN component parties should not have any problem retaining the seats they won in the last election despite fielding 14 new faces in the (GE14) which will see nomination and polling on April 28 and May 9 respectively.
Of these new faces, six are standing for Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), five from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), two from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and one from Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
They are Genot @ Jeannoth Sinel (Puncak Borneo), Robert Lawson Chuat (Betong), Yusuf Abd Wahab (Tanjong Manis), Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (Igan), Dato Hanifah Taib (Mukah) and Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Sibuti) — from PBB; Kho Teck Wan (Bandar Kuching), Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian (Stampin), Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii (Sarikei), Kelvin Kong (Lanang) and Andrew Wong (Sibu) — from SUPP; Robert Pasang Alam (Lubok Antu) and Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol (Selangau) — from PRS and Jagah @ Subeng Mula (Saratok) — from PDP.
The incumbents from PBB are Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong), Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Petra Jaya), Rubiah Wang (Kota Samarahan), Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong), Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (Batang Lupar), Datuk Alexandar Nanta Linggi (Kapit), Hasbi Habibollah (Limbang) and Datuk Henry Sum Agong (Lawas).
The incumbents from PRS are Datuk Masir Kujat (Lubok Antu), Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (Julau), Aaron Ago Dagang (Kanowit) and Wilson Ugak Kumbong (Hulu Rajang).
For PDP, Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Anyi Ngau are
expected to defend Mas Gading, Bintulu and Baram respectively.
State BN chairman and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who unveiled the full list yesterday, said all BN candidates had been screened and cleared by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“As far as PBB is concerned, all our MPs (incumbents who are not seeking re-election) willingly want to withdraw. What is more important is that PBB wants to give way to new faces, especially the young ones,” he said at a press conference at PBB headquarters here.
Abang Johari, who is PBB president, said the new faces from PBB constituted over 40 per cent of the total number of new faces for the state BN.
He pointed out that the new candidates will play a pivotal role in moving the state forward to realising its digital economy agenda.
It is noted that the youngest BN candidate for this election is Lukanisman, 36, and those aged 50 and below are Kho Teck Wan and Andrew Wong (both 42), Kelvin Kong and Dato Hanifah Taib (both 46), Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii (49) and Rubiah Wang (50).
Abang Johari thanked all BN incumbents who had agreed not to defend their respective seats.
According to him, BN Sarawak is going for a mix of young, new and experienced candidates this time around, in tandem with Sarawak’s aspiration to become a developed state in Malaysia by 2030.
“We need new faces and the experienced ones will guide the new. They will continue to lead us through to 2030.
“Every leader must focus on unity and move forward. There is no self interest, but people’s interest. We need to collaborate with one another to move forward,” said Abang Johari.
To a question, he said: “God willing, we will try to take 28 or 29 seats.”
Among those present were deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing who is PRS president, and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, as well as PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.