THE PRESIDENT AND HIS MEN: Mawan (third left) accompanied by Abdul Wahab (fourth left) and BN members as they march from Saratok town to the nomination centre at the District office. — Photo by Jacqueline David
State BN has to fight for every parliamentary seat in the state, no more luxury of winning uncontested
KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) will have to fight for every parliamentary seat in the state in the 13th general election (GE13), unlike in the last general election in 2008 when it won four seats uncontested.
Out of the 31 seats in the state, three seats will see four-cornered fights, 14 seats have three candidates in the fray and there are 14 straight fights.
A total of 82 candidates had been accepted by the Election Commission to contest for the 31 seats. Out of the number, 31 candidates are from State BN, 31 candidates from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (15 PKR, 11 DAP and five PAS), seven candidates from State Reform Party (STAR), six from Sarawak Workers Party and seven independent candidates.
The four-corner fights are in Mas Gading, Santubong and Sri Aman. Apart from BN, PR and an independent candidate, STAR is contesting in Mas Gading and Santubong while SWP and an independent make it four in Sri Aman.
BARISAN KUCHING?: Even mascots in Kuching get into GE13 mood.
Out of the five seats that were won uncontested by BN in the last general election, three seats namely Tanjong Manis, Igan and Kapit will see straight fights between BN and PR while it would be a three-corned fight between BN, PR and SWP in the other two seats, Kanowit and Selangau.
SWP targets all the six seats held by PRS, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau Selangau Kanowit and Hulu Rajang while STAR is fielding candidates in Stampin, Mambong, Serian, Miri and Lawas.
The four independent candidates are contesting Saratok, Sibu, Mukah and Baram.
Other seats with straight fights between BN and PR are Petra Jaya, Bandar Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Betong, Sarikei, Lanang, Bintulu, Sibuti and Limbang.
One of the most keenly watched seats in state is Saratok not so much because half of the constituency has fallen to the PKR when the BN lost Krian state seat in 2011 state polls, but rather the BN candidate picked to save it from falling to the opposition is a party president.
ELECTION CAMPAIGN STARTS: A poster featuring BN candidates for Bandar Kuching and Stampin being placed at the 101 Commercial Centre at Jalan Song in Kuching. — Photo by Tan Song Wei.
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom has taken over from incumbent MP Jelaing Mersat who is also a senior leader of his party to defend the seat for BN.
Just a day after his name was announced by the BN, several disgruntled SPDP members and BN supporters gathered in Saratok and demanded that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak replace him with Jelaing or another person from the area.
Although Mawan hails from Ulu Budu Krian, which is within the Saratok constituency, the protesters claimed he was not.
Mawan is also a state BN senior vice president and national BN vice chairman.
He was accompanied by Kalaka assemblyman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz who is his proposer and his seconder Lim Kheng Hua when he submitted his nomination papers yesterday.
Mawan will be facing PKR’s vice chairman Ali Biju who is from Nanga Budu which is near Mawan’s original longhouse.
The other contender is 74-year-old former state election commission director Dato Abang Rosli Abang Paleng.