KUCHING: The nomination of candidates for the 15th general election kicks off today for the 31 parliamentary seats in Sarawak with 31 nomination centres scheduled to open at 9am.
Prospective candidates contesting in the polls have one hour (9am to 10am) to submit their completed forms, with a proposer and a seconder endorsing their candidacies.
Based on the candidates lists announced by political parties, more than half of the 31 parliamentary seats will see at least three-cornered fights.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the state ruling coalition announced 31 candidates on Thursday (Nov 3), including 14 new faces. Three incumbent MPs have stepped down.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) will contest 30 of the 31 parliamentary seats, with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) fielding 16 candidates, Democratic Action Party (DAP) eight and Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH) six. The opposition coalition will sit out Julau, which was won by Datuk Larry Sng when he stood as an independent in GE14.
Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) is expected to contest up to eight seats while local opposition party Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) may go for seven seats. PBK will be contesting using the PSB symbol, except in Mas Gading where the party will use its own logo.
Julau incumbent Sng, who is also currently the Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, is expected to defend the seat under his own party logo.
Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional (PN) will contest four seats; including Batang Lupar, Lubok Antu, Saratok and Bintulu.
Out of the four seats, Saratok and Lubok Antu were held by PN’s Datuk Ali Biju (PN-Bersatu) and Jugah Muyang (PN-Bersatu), respectively.
Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (ASPIRASI), however, has not finalised its candidates – despite previously expressing its intention to contest in Stampin, Bandar Kuching, Puncak Borneo, Mas Gading and Serian.
All eyes are also set on the contest in Stampin, a Chinese-majority urban seat where Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen is expected to face GPS’ Lo Khere Chiang. Both candidates are also elected state assemblymen.
Chong is the Padungan assemblyman while Lo represents Batu Kitang as the assemblyman. Batu Kitang is a state seat under Stampin.
Puncak Borneo, is another interesting seat to watch as its incumbent Datuk Willie Mongin, who won the seat under PKR ticket is now contesting on a GPS ticket. He is expected to face Diog Dios (PH-PKR), George Young Si-Ricord Junior (ASPIRASI) and Thomson Ago (PBK).
An intense fight is also expected in Julau, where the seat will be contested by incumbent Sng and former MP Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum from GPS-PRS.
Other seats worth watching include Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Saratok, Sibu, Miri and Lawas.
The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 19 for polling and Nov 15 for early voting.
The campaign period will last 14 days, starting today after the announcement of candidates contesting in the polls.
Based on EC’s data as of Oct 9, the total numbers of voters in Sarawak are 1,943,074.
Meanwhile, Sarawak police have identified six “hotspots” for the GE15.
Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the areas involved mostly urban seats, namely Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Lanang, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
Apart from that, he said, police will be monitoring several seats with an increase in voters, namely Senadin and Lambir in Miri, Tupong in Petra Jaya and Santubong.
EC said that there are no plans to introduce COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the election.
A spokesperson said the SOPs for the last state election in December last year has been abolished.
Election campaigns are allowed without restrictions, but the wearing of face masks is encouraged.
