KUCHING: A record 349 candidates from the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, nine opposition parties and independents are set to clash on Dec 18 to enter the biggest state legislative assembly in the country.
From state capital Kuching to the Ba'kelalan highlands, none of the 82 seats were left unturned in Sarawak's 12th election as Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg leads the GPS to the polls for the first time.
This is the biggest turnout in the state's election history in terms of contesting parties and candidates. The state legislative assembly was increased to 82 seats in the 2016 polls which then featured 229 contestants.
GPS comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) of which Abang Johari is president, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), is marking a new reality in Sarawak politics in seeking a new government mandate.
The four parties, which were instrumental in capturing 72 seats in the 2016 polls under Barisan Nasional (BN), had quit the federal pact in 2018 to form their own state coalition with a red and black hornbill logo.
The flood of challengers this time has pumped up the election fever in which the majority of contests will be multi-cornered fights. No party leaders from both sides of the fence were spared.
Save for four straight fights, the rest of the election will be fought out over 13 three-cornered fights, 33 four-cornered fights, 24 five-cornered fights, seven six-cornered fights and a single eight-cornered tussle.
Abang Johari is in a four-way contest in Gedong. His challengers are Mohamad Sofian Fariz Sharbini of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Kamal Bujang (Amanah) and Tomson Ango of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK).
Dressed in a white shirt, Abang Johari filed his papers at the Gedong Community Hall, propelling the rural seat into the limelight. This is the first time he is switching to a new seat after spending the past 40 years as the state assemblyman of Satok.
He expressed confidence that Sarawakians were wise enough to judge what GPS has done for the state.
"Although there are parties who say the manifesto is not the Bible, to us it is a promise that we must deliver as best possible. I hope now that our government has social and economic policies until 2030 and, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we want our economy to recover and I hope the people will also play their roles so that Sarawak will have a brighter future for their children and grandchildren," he told a media conference after the nomination process today.
PDP leader Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, meanwhile, is locked in an eight-way tussle in Dudong while SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian is also in a four-cornered fight to defend Batu Kawah.
Datuk John Sikie Tayai, one of the senior faces in PRS, is in a six-way fight to defend Kakus. The party lost long-time president Tan Sri James Jemut Masing in late October when he died from COVID-19 complications.
Among the opposition, State DAP chief Chong Chien Jen is in a four-man battle in Padungan while PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, 79, the oldest contestant, will have to fend off four others to retain the Bawang Assan seat.
The other parties in the fray are PKR, PBK, Aspirasi, Amanah, PAS, Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB).
After GPS, PBK has the next highest number of 73 candidates followed by PSB (70), PKR (28), DAP (26), PDDSB (11), Amanah (eight), Sedar (five) and PAS one candidate.
In Krian, federal Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Datuk Ali Biju of Bersatu defied the party's decision when he registered to contest the seat as an independent. He first won Krian in 2011 and 2016 as a PKR candidate but left the party in 2020 to join Bersatu.
He is among 30 independents in the reckoning. Independents have a poor record in the past few election outings and make up the bulk of 69 candidates who lost their RM5,000 deposits in 2016.
A total of 45 women, close to 13 per cent, are contesting the polls.
Amid stringent measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the registration of candidates took place without the usual hordes of supporters and processions. Inside the nomination centres, no journalists except for photographers and television crew were allowed.
A total of 1,252,014 registered voters are eligible to cast their votes. Early polling is scheduled for Dec 14.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Dec 06 2021
A record 349 candidates from the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, nine opposition parties and independents are set to clash on Dec 18 to enter the biggest state legislative assembly in the country. - Sarawak Tok / BERNAMA
Suruhanjaya Eropah saman Hungary atas dakwaan pelanggaran hak asasi
Budapest gagal hilangkan kebimbangan mengenai undang-undang baharu Hungary yang bertujuan mengehadkan pembiayaan asing bagi kempen politik.
PM Pakistan gembira atas perbincangan produktif dengan PM Malaysia
Bidang-bidang utama itu termasuk perdagangan, IT, tenaga, pertanian, eksport daging halal, pelancongan, pendidikan dan pertahanan.
Rwanda catat 7 lagi kes virus Marburg dan satu lagi kematian
Rwanda mencatatkan tujuh kes baharu penyakit virus Marburg dan satu lagi kematian.
Menurut angka terkini yang dikeluarkan lewat Rabu Kementerian Kesihatan Rwanda,
jumlah keseluruhan jangkitan virus Marburg sejak wabak bermula kini sebanyak 36 kes, dengan 11 kematian dilaporkan setakat ini.
Menurut angka terkini yang dikeluarkan lewat Rabu Kementerian Kesihatan Rwanda,
jumlah keseluruhan jangkitan virus Marburg sejak wabak bermula kini sebanyak 36 kes, dengan 11 kematian dilaporkan setakat ini.
Lebih 140 sekolah UNRWA diserang sejak 7 Oktober
Lebih 140 sekolah UNRWA diserang sejak 7 Oktober dalam keadaan dimana penduduk Gaza berlindung di bawah naungan PBB.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Pesuruhjaya Agung Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini dalam satu hantaran di X.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Pesuruhjaya Agung Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini dalam satu hantaran di X.
28 petugas dilapor maut dalam tempoh 24 jam lalu di Lubnan
28 petugas kesihatan dilaporkan terbunuh dalam tempoh 24 jam lalu di Lubnan.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pada Khamis.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pada Khamis.
UNIFIL kekal pada posisi walaupun didesak berundur
Pasukan pengaman PBB di selatan Lubnan terus bertahan pada kedudukan mereka, di bawah mandat UNSC, walaupun diarah Israel untuk berundur.
G7 desak pemain serantau di Asia Barat bertindak cermat dalam krisis
Pemimpin Kumpulan Tujuh (G7) mengulangi kebimbangan mereka terhadap krisis di Asia Barat dan menyeru pemain serantau supaya bertindak dengan bertanggungjawab serta berhemah.
Mereka turut menegaskan sokongan penuh terhadap keselamatan Israel.
Mereka turut menegaskan sokongan penuh terhadap keselamatan Israel.
AS sokong operasi Israel di Lubnan meski risiko meluaskan konflik
Pentadbiran Joe Biden menyatakan bahawa adalah wajar untuk Israel meneruskan serangan darat dan udara terhadap Hezbollah buat masa ini, menurut jurucakap Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat, Matthew Miller.
Namun, beliau mengakui risiko operasi di Lubnan mungkin melangkaui matlamat semasa Israel.
Namun, beliau mengakui risiko operasi di Lubnan mungkin melangkaui matlamat semasa Israel.
Shamsul Iskandar dakwa kesepakatan parti dalam PN kian longgar
Shamsul Iskandar berkata, perpecahan dalaman PN itu dapat diukur melalui prestasi mereka pada PRK DUN Nenggiri dan DUN Mahkota.
Politik stabil, dasar kerajaan tarik minat syarikat global melabur di Malaysia - Gobind
Menurut Menteri Digital Gobind Singh Deo, pada masa ini terdapat banyak perbincangan, tidak hanya antara syarikat-syarikat di negara serantau malah dunia berhubung perkara itu.
S'wak Polls: GPS retains Satok with ease
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) retained the Satok state seat in the 12th Sarawak election when its candidate, Datuk Ibrahim Baki defeated his two challengers with a 6,033-vote majority.