KUCHING: The Betong parliamentary seat will see a three-cornered fight in the 15th general election (GE15).
The returning officer, Betong District officer Alfred Geling Ason who made the announcement, said that the Election Commission (EC) received three nomination forms from Hasbie Satar (Independent -Boat logo) at 9.04 am, Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) at 9.07 am and Patrick Kamis of Pakatan Harapan-Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PH-PKR) at 9.11 am.
“After checking their documents, there are no candidates being withdrawn,” he said during the announcement of candidates at the nomination centre in Betong District office on Today.
Dr Richard who arrived at the centre on 8.29 am was accompanied by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Layar assemblyman Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and Saribas assemblyman Mohd Razi Sitam.
In this GE15, Dr Richard who is also the political secretary to Premier will be contesting for the first time, replacing the incumbent Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat as GPS candidate.
Meanwhile in the Lubok Antu parliamentary seat, it will be a four-cornered fight between GPS, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Perikatan Nasional-Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PN-Bersatu) and PH-PKR.
EC returning officer Richard Ngumbang announced the candidates, namely Roy Gingkoi (GPS), Johnical Rayong (PSB), Jugah Muyang (PN-Bersatu) and Langga Lian (PH-PKR) at the nomination centre in Lubok Antu Sports Complex.
In GE14, Jugah won the seat won as an Independent candidate, but then joined PKR. Later in June 2020, he resigned from PKR and became an Independent candidate again who supported PN government and GPS government.