KUCHING: The decision to nominate Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the Tanjong Datu by-election is ideal and accurate, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
According to him, it was a unanimous decision by PBB leaders led by party president Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Wan Junaidi, who is also Tanjung Datu by-election director of operations, also emphasised that it was actually not a trend for BN to field the widow or the widower of the elected representative in any by-election.
“We would like to reiterate that our selection of candidates for certain constituencies is not based on gaining sympathy votes; it’s more on how the candidate can be the voice of the people. Datin Patinggi Jamilah fits the bill, as she is not only a person of calibre but also shares close ties with the local community, especially the people of Tanjong Datu,” he said at the ‘meet-the-leaders’ session at Masjid An Nur in Kampung Stunggang Melayu, Lundu on Sunday.
Wan Junaidi, who is Santubong MP, also advised voters in Tanjong Datu against being easily swayed by certain quarters on polling day.
“Use your rights as voters because your choice will determine the future of your area. The winning percentage won by the late ‘Tok Nan’, which was 92.2 per cent in the last state election, is the benchmark for this by-election,” he said.
Polling day for the Tanjong Datu by-election is this Feb 18.
The Sunday session was also attended by Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, PBB information chief Dato Yusop Sani Wahap and Kampung Stunggang Melayu Penghulu Ibrahim Suni.