BN wins 2 seats unopposed
Published on: Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Kuching: Barisan Nasional (BN) has fired the first salvo, winning two seats unopposed, while the opposition was in disarray after the close of nominations for 82 seats in Sarawak's biggest ballot set for May 7. The DAP-PKR electoral understanding broke down as they fielded candidates against each other in several disputed constituencies. Amanah, their partner in Pakatan Harapan, and PAS are unlikely to make much of an impact, being seen as spoilers at best. ADVERTISEMENT BN's Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, PBB senior vice-president, and Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, from the same party, retained the Bukit Sari and Bukit Kota seats, respectively, for their third term. The last time BN won uncontested seats was in 2006, in Daro and Dalat. There were no walkovers in 2011 when BN captured 55 of 71 seats, DAP 12, PKR three, and Independent one. The 11th state election drew 228 candidates, most of them turning up early to file their nomination papers and to begin 12 days of campaigning. BN has named candidates for all seats. PKR is contesting 31 constituencies, DAP 31, PAS 11, Amanah 13, Star 11, and PBDS (B) five, with 36 Independents joining the fray. ADVERTISEMENT BN, under the hugely popular Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, faces straight fights in 36 of the 80 constituencies left to be contested. Adenan, who is leading BN for the first time in a state election, defends his Tanjung Datu stronghold in a straight fight with Jazolkipli Numan of PKR.
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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak accompanied Adenan to the Lundu community hall where the latter filed his papers. Adenan said the early gain of the two seats was a morale booster for BN and a sign that the opposition pact had no consensus at all. "Of course, it is a moral booster for us and a moral letdown for the opposition. The opposition pact is very loose. No consensus, and they are not coming together," he said. He also said BN entered the election confident of forming the next government, and with only one agenda, which is to continue creating opportunities and deliver the best service to the rakyat. Team Adenan consists of 40 candidates from his party PBB, the anchor of the State BN, SUPP 13, PRS 11, SPDP 5 and, for the first time, 13 direct candidates.SUPP President Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian stands in Batu Kawah in a three-way fight against DAP incumbent Christina Chiew and ex-UPP Batu Kawah Chairman Liu Thian Leong who resigned to contest as an Independent. PRS President Tan Sri James Masing, who defends his interior stronghold Baleh against Agop Linsong of DAP, went with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and 2,000 supporters to Dewan Suarah Kapit to seal his candidacy. The remaining fights are 27 three-cornered, 12 four-cornered and five five-cornered contests. Chinese-majority areas that will be fiercely contested include Bawang Assan and Dudong in Sibu, new seat Bukit Kitang in Kuching and Pujut in Miri. Bawang Assan will see BN incumbent Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh facing Chiew Dung Ngie (DAP), Wong Sing Wei (Star) and Independents Watson Bangau and Yeu Bang Keng. Dudong, won by DAP with 317 votes the last time, will see incumbent Yap Hoi Liong slugging it out with Datuk Tiong Thai King (BN), Ting Yik Hong (Star) and Independents Casper Kayong and Lee Chung Fat. Another five-way tussle will decide the new Bukit Kitang seat. In the ring are Voon Shiak Ni (PKR), Abdul Aziz Isa (DAP), Lo Khere Chiang (BN) and Independents Sulaiman Kadir and Othman Bojeng. DAP-held Pujut in Miri is a four-cornered affair with the party's new candidate Dr Ting Tiong Choon taking on incumbent Fong Pau Tek, who won the seat for DAP in 2011 but was sacked in 2013, and two others, Datuk Hii King Chiong (BN) and Jofri Jaraiee (PAS). Including Bukit Kitang, DAP and PKR are clashing in six constituencies, the rest being Mambong, Simanggang, Ngemah and two more new seats, Mulu and Murum. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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A total of 1,138,650 people are eligible to vote, 16 per cent higher than before, with two thirds in the 30-59 age bracket. In 2011, voter turnout was 70 per cent.