MIRI: Sibuti incumbent Lukanisman Awang Sauni of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is likely to face a multi-cornered fight in the 15th general election on Nov 19.
Several parties have made known their intention to contest in Sibuti, namely Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).
The-one term Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) incumbent is expected to face Bobby William, the PBDSB president and PKR Sibuti women chief Zulhaidah Suboh. PAS has yet to announce its candidate.
In the last general election, Lukanisman garnered 12,214 votes to defeat Jemat Panjang (Pakatan Harapan) and Zulaihi Bakar (PAS) by a 3,676-vote majority. Jemat collected 8,538 votes and Zulaihi, 1,617.
The Sibuti parliamentary seat was created in 2005 with the late Datuk Ahmad Lai Bujang (PBB) as the first MP. Ahmad Lai defeated PKR’s Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng in a straight fight in the 12th general election in 2008.
He retained the seat for another two terms until 2013.
Lukanisman should have no problem retaining the seat for GPS as Sibiti is a PBB stronghold.
The Election Commission has fixed nomination day for Nov 5 and early voting on Nov 15.
The seat has 32,581 voters as in 2021 of which the majority of the residents in the constituency are Kedayan, followed by Iban, Malay and Chinese.
