BINTULU: PAS announced its 11 candidates for the upcoming 11th Sarawak state election, naming among them former Iban singer and recording artiste Clement Bayang as its first non-Muslim candidate in the state.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang also named the party’s youngest and only woman candidate, Hamidah Mokhtar, 26, manager of a Muslim women’s clothing boutique.
Making the announcement at a hotel here, he said Clement, 59, a ‘tuai rumah’ or community chief and head of the Sarawak PAS Supporters Assembly, would contest the Kakus seat.
Abdul Hadi said Hamidah, the Sarawak PAS women’s wing secretary, would contest the Beting Maro seat.
He named the other nine candidates as Ustaz Yusof Assidiqqi Ahmad Sharkawi (Samariang seat), Zainal Abidin Yet (Pantai Damai), Zulkipli Ramzi (Muara Tuang), Asan Sikro (Sadong Jaya), Ustaz Wan Abdillah Wan Ahmad (Sebuyau), Kiprawi Aman (Jepak) Sarawak PAS Youth chief Mohammad Arifiriazul Paijo (Lambir) Sarawak PAS commissioner Jofri Jaraiee (Pujut) and Zharudin Narudin (Samalaju -new seat).
PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said five of the 11 PAS candidates were below 40.
The Sarawak state legislative assembly is scheduled to be dissolved on April 11 to pave the way for the 11th state election that will see contest for 82 seats, 11 more than in 2011.
In 2011, PAS lost in all the five seats it contested.-BERNAMA