KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will most likely field a family member of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem as its candidate in the upcoming Tanjung Datu by-election to continue his legacy, revealed its secretary-general Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
He said this was based on both the party and the voters’ sentiments in Tanjung Datu.
“Tanjung Datu is a very safe seat for us and surely we will be able to defend it. But we want someone to carry the name (of the family) because it was formerly the late Adenan’s seat.
“We leave the candidate to CM to decide but personally, I also think of the sentiments of the grassroots who wanted to see either one of Datuk Patinggi Adenan’s children or better still his widow to take over as the party would love to see the family to carry on with his legacy,” Dr Rundi told the media after the State Cabinet and Assistant Ministers swearing-in ceremony held at the State Legislative Assembly Complex here yesterday.
He said the candidate for Tanjung Datu by-election would most probably be announced tomorrow either after the PBB’s supreme council (MKT) meeting to be held in the morning or after the State BN’s supreme council meeting to be held in the afternoon,” he revealed.
Dr Rundi said the party has high regards for Adenan as he was seen as a capable leader.
“He has done so much for the party and the people. So most likely the candidate will be from his family. But we have party members who have been entrusted to look into the matter to study and analyse who is the best candidate,” he continued.
Based on the ground sentiments, the probability of the candidate from the late chief minister’s family is very high as most of the voters’ in Tanjung Datu wanted his legacy to be continued by one of his children or his widow Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu.
Speculations have been rife that Jamilah in her early 60’s, would most probably be given the nod to carry on her late husband’s legacy. However, if she turned down the offer, it would most probably be given to Azizul Annuar, in his early 20’s, to carry on his father’s unfinished plans for Tanjong Datu.
In the last State election, Adenan defeated PKR candidate Jazolkipli Numan with a majority of 5,892 votes. He polled 6,360 votes against Jozolfipli’s 468 votes.
The late chief minister had been the Assemblyman of Tanjong Datu since 2006. Before that he was a long time elected representative of Muara Tuang.
The late Adenan passed away suddenly at the Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre, Kota Samarahan on Wednesday last week. He was 72.