At the moment, two names are being bandied worthy to create history by assuming the role of the first Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) of Malaysia from the Land of the Hornbill.
The name of Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is mentioned because of his experience and effective and excellent role as chief whip, as well as Senior Minister from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the previous federal administration.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi is much talked about among the Ibans, considering that he represents the majority group found in this state.
The fact is, both Fadillah and Alexander have enough merit and qualifications to succeed in the position.
Fadillah who turned 60 last April 17, is well known for his success in bringing the Pan Borneo Highway to Sarawak.
He realised this old dream of Sarawak when he held the role of Minister of Works – a portfolio he held twice, back in 2013 to 2018 and 2020 to 2022.
Fadillah has served as Member of Parliament for Petra Jaya since 2004, replacing the late Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Daud. At that time, he garnered 18,236 votes to defeat Wan Zainal Abidin Wan Sanusi from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) who only polled 5,420 votes.
Fadillah has served as Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, from 2008 to 2013, after he won a second term in the 2008 general election, when he obtained 19,515 votes defeating Mohamad Jolhi (PKR) who obtained 5,118 votes.
Born into a family of fighters, his father Yusof Merais, was a friend of the late Rosli Dhobi. He is the ninth of 14 siblings and attended St Mary’s Primary School in Sibu.
He was then offered a student exchange program at Panglima Bukit Gantang Secondary School in Parit Buntar before continuing his studies in Bachelor of Laws at University of Malaya in 1986.
Fadillah started his career as a lawyer. In 1989, he joined politics as a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
He is active in Tupong state constituency, in addition to holding the role of Secretary of the PBB State Youth Movement.
In GE13, he obtained 29,559 votes to defeat syarie lawyer, Ahmad Nazib Johari (PKR) who garnered 8,116 votes.
It was at this time that Fadillah was promoted to Minister of Works under the cabinet of then Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak.
Following the defeat of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th general election, Fadillah was been chosen as chief whip of the opposition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the Dewan Rakyat.
In GE14, he secured 28,306 votes against Datuk Dr Nor Irwan Ahmat Nor (PKR) who obtained 13,289 votes.
Following the Sheraton Move in 2020, Fadillah was appointed as a Senior Cabinet Minister of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and holds the portfolio of Minister of Works. He continued to assume the role a year later, when Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed to lead the country.
In the recent GE15, Fadillah, who is PBB vice president, garnered 54,745 votes defeating the PH candidate, Sophian Julaihi and Sedar candidate, Datuk Othman Abdillah by a huge majority.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi turned 64 years old on June 16. The Kapit MP was Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs in the previous cabinet, a role he assumed since March 10, 2020.
He is the secretary general of GPS and PBB. The grandson of the founder of PBB, who was also the party’s first president, Tun Jugah Barieng, he is born into a political family, with his father being the former PBB secretary general, Tan Sri Leonard Linggi Jugah.
Before being active in politics, Nanta was a businessman, who served as the chairman of shipping company Swee Joo Sdn Bhd.
He first entered the political scene in 1999 when he won the Kapit Parliamentary constituency on a BN-PBB ticket, defeating an Independent candidate, Richard Nujong Abit and Nor Azman Abdullah @ Baginda Minda (PKR) with a majority of 11,016 votes.
In 2004 and 2008, Nanta continued to defend the seat unchallenged.
In 2013, hepolled 13,446 votes to upset the DAP candidate, Ramli Malaka who only garnered 3,715 votes.
This success on May 16, 2013 allowed him to be promoted as Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development under Najib Razak’s cabinet.
In 2018, the then BN candidate was once again proved difficult to beat. This time, he obtained 14,302 votes to defeat Paren Nyawi (DAP) who only secured 3,823 votes.
After two years in opposition, when a new government was formed, Nanta joined the cabinet with his portfolio as Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
In GE15, Nanta once again defended the seat, obtaining 16,552 votes to defeat the PH candidate Khusyairy Pangkas Abdullah @ Pangkas Unggang and a PBDS candidate, Robert Saweng with a majority of 12,402 votes.
Honestly, no matter what is being said and talked about, ultimately the selection of DPM from GPS will be decided by the leadership of the party.
Fadillah is currently considered the most suitable candidate because of his experience and maturity with Peninsula politics, while Alexander still plays an important role in the cabinet, representing the voice of the state.
Both are strong team mates, as seen in the relationship between Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg – Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud -Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.
Whoever is appointed, he will bear a heavy duty on his shoulders, because the cabinet that exists after this is no longer partisan, but puts unity above everything else.
