BY ALEXANDRA LORNA & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: A total of 92 candidates will be contesting in 31 parliamentary seats in Sarawak in the 15th general election (GE15), after the nomination closed at 10am today (Nov 5).
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) – the state’s ruling coalition comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) are contesting in all the seats.
There are 22 candidates from Pakatan Harapan, including eight from Democratic Action Party (DAP) which will be using the party ‘rocket’ logo in the polls, while Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Amanah are using the Harapan logo.
Meanwhile, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has fielded 10 candidates, Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) – one, Perikatan National (PN) – four, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) – one, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) – three, Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (SEDAR) – one and 11 independent candidates.
The Sarawak Aspiration People’s Party (ASPIRASI), has made a shocking decision by withdrawing from contesting in the GE15.
Its president Lina Soo in a statement yesterday said the party went through a period of much agonising and soul-searching to decide if ASPIRASI would send its candidates as it had earlier announced to go for Mas Gading, Puncak Borneo, Serian, Bandar Kuching and Stampin but had finally decided to stay out of GE15.
Interestingly, the GE15 in Sarawak will see eight straight fights while a total of 17 seats are seeing three-cornered fights, and five seats with four-cornered fights.
The Kanowit parliamentary constituency is contested by five candidates; including its four-term MP, making it the most crowded seat in Sarawak.
The incumbent Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (GPS), is facing four challengers from the opposition – Mohd Fauzi Abdullah (PH-PKR), 61, as well as three independents.
The independent candidates are Dr Elli Luhat, 65, Chen Nyuk Fa, 60, and Michael Lias, 61.
The four-cornered fight seats are Lanang (GPS, DAP, PSB and Independent), Julau (GPS, PBDS, PBM and Independent), Sri Aman (GPS, PH, PSB and Independent), Serian (GPS, DAP, PSB and Independent), Lubok Antu (GPS, PH, PN and PSB).
For the three-cornered fight, the seats are Mas Gading (GPS, PBK and DAP), Santubong (GPS, PH and Independent), Bintulu (GPS, PN and DAP), Sibuti (GPS, PH and PBDS), Miri (GPS, PH and PSB), Baram (GPS, PH and Independent), Lawas (GPS, PH and PSB), Kapit (GPS, PH and PBDS), Selangau (GPS, PH and Independent), Sibu (GPS, DAP and PSB), Saratok (GPS, PH and PN), Betong (GPS, PH and PN), Batang Lupar (GPS, PH and PN), Puncak Borneo (GPS, PH and PSB), Stampin (GPS, DAP and PSB), Bandar Kuching (GPS, DAP and PSB) and Petra Jaya (GPS, PH and SEDAR).
Straight fight seats are in Limbang (GPS and PH), Hulu Rajang (GPS and PH), Mukah (GPS and PH), Sarikei (GPS and DAP), Igan (GSP and PH), Tanjong Manis (GPS and PH), Batang Sadong (GPS and PH) and Kota Samarahan (GPS and PH).
In the GE14, there were 16 straight fights, 14 three-cornered fights, and only one four-cornered fight in the Sibu parliamentary seat.
For Sarawak, based on Election Commission’s (EC) data as of October 9, 2022, the total numbers of voters recorded are 1,943,074.
These comprise 975,618 male voters (50.21 per cent) and 967,456 female voters (49.79 per cent).
