BN drops Taib’s ‘baby’ Sng

KUCHING: When Adenan Satem, special advisor to the Chief Minister, announced the Barisan Nasional candidates for the upcoming state polls yesterday, conspicuously missing were a number of old faces including Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Speaker Asfia Awang Nasar and two assistant ministers Soon Choon Teck and Larry Sng.

Asfia, Sng and Soon were already tipped to be replaced.

Semop constituency incumbent, Asfia had performed badly so much so that the local people petitioned the BN leadership to replace him. His place is taken over by Abdullah Saidol.

Taib Mahmud’s blue-eyed boy, Sng was dropped because he was no longer member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) following major fallout with its president James Masing. His place is taken over by Stanley Nyitar.

Soon, on the other hand, was axed due to prolonged differences with Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Sibu branch chairman, Wong Soon Koh.

Soon and Wong were at loggerheads over a proposal to make Dudong a separate entity from Sibu branch. Wong strongly objected to the proposal.

Their differences had resulted in BN losing the Sibu parliamentary seat to DAP in May last year.

Ba’ Kelalan mystery

But the biggest surprise of all is the exclusion of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) secretary-general, Nelson Balang Rinting, from the candidates list for the Ba’ Kelalan seat.

He was elected in a by-election in September 2004 following the death of Judson Tagal in a helicopter crash. He defeated Baru Bian by 1,300 votes.

In the last election, the two met again. And again Balang defeated Baru, but this time by 475 votes.

Balang’s absence has surprised many. Many feel that because he is the secretary-general, he should have all the powers that he needs to strengthen his position not only in the party but also in his constituency.

It is also the primary reason why he was appointed to the post in January 2010.

His appointment had led to severe discord within SPDP. Five of the party’s reps, including Sylvester Enteri, had staged a walkout and for one year remained ‘partyless.’ The move severely dented the party’s unity.

They only returned to SPDP on the advice of BN leadership, and after apologising to SPDP president William Mawan Ikom.

According to Mawan, Balang had to be dropped as he is “kalah bulu” (cannot win) against Sarawak PKR chairman, Baru Bian, whose influence in Ba’Kelalan has grown from strength to strength.

Full list

Adding to the mystery in Ba’Kelalan is that no one has been selected to replace Balang for the time being.

His name will be known before nomination day on April 6.

Soon’s place in Dudong is taken over by Lanang MP and Sibu mayor, Tiong Thai King.

Taib, meanwhile will defend his Balingian seat, while SUPP president and deputy chief minister George Chan will again be defending his Piasau constituency.

PRS president James Masing and Mawan will also be defending Baleh and Pakan seats respectively.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), is fielding 35 candidates, 10 of them are new faces, SUPP has 19 candidates, seven are new faces.

PRS has two new faces out of nine candidates. SPDP is fielding eight candidates including one new face.

Full list of Sarawak Barisan Nasional candidates.

N1 Opar – Ranum anak Mina (SUPP)
N2 Tasik Biru – Peter Nansian Ngusie (SPDP)
N3 Tanjung Datu – Adenan Satem (PBB)
N4 Pantai Damai – Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi  (PBB)
N5 Demak Laut – Dr Hazland Abang Hipni (PBB)
N6 Tupong -  Daud Abdul Rahman   (PBB)
N7 Samariang – Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (PBB)
N8 Satok – Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang. Openg (PBB)
N9 Padungan – Sim Kiang Chiok (SUPP)
N10 Pending – Professor Dr Sim Hui Kian   (SUPP)
N11 Batu Lintang – Sih Hua Tong    (SUPP)
N12 Kota Sentosa – Datuk Alfred Yap Chin Loi   (SUPP)
N13 Batu Kawa – Tan Joo Phoi    (SUPP)
N14 Asajaya -  Abd. Karim Rahman Hamzah    (PBB)
N15 Muara Tuang – Mohamad Ali Mahmud    (PBB)
N16 Bengoh – Dr. Jerip ak. Susil      (SUPP)
N17 Tarat – Roland Sagah Wee Inn   (PBB)
N18 Tebedu – Datuk Seri Michael Manyin ak. Jawong    (PBB)
N19 Kedup – Martin Ben   (PBB)
N20 Sadong – Aidil Lariwo    (PBB)
N21 Simunjan – Naroden b. Haji Majais  (PBB)
N22 Sebuyau – Julaihi Narawi    (PBB)
N23 Lingga – Simoi Haji Peri   (PBB)
N24 Beting -Maro Rozaily Gapor  (PBB)
N25 Balai Ringin – Snowdan Lawan (PRS)
N26 Bukit Begunan – Mong ak. Dagang   (PRS)
N27 Simanggang – Datuk Francis Harden ak. Hollis (SUPP)
N28 Engkilili – Johnichal Rayong    (SUPP)
N29 Batang Ai – Malcolm Mussen Lamoh (PRS)
N30 Saribas – Ricky aliasMohd Radzi Sitam   (PBB)
N31 Layar – Tan Sri Alfred Jabu ak. Numpang   (PBB)
N32 Bukit Saban – Robert Lawson Chuat   (PBB)
N33 Kalaka – Abdul Wahab Aziz  (PBB)
N34 Krian – Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie (SPDP)
N35 Belawai – Datuk Len Talif Salleh   (PBB)
N36 Semop – Abdulah Saidol   (PBB)
N37 Daro – Murni Suhaili   (PBB)
N38 Jemoreng – Abu Seman Jahwie
N39 Repok – David Teng Lung Chi (SUPP)
N40 Meradong – Ling Kie King  (SUPP)
N41 Pakan – Datuk William Mawan  Ikom    (SPDP)
N42 Meluan – Wong Judat  (SPDP)
N43 Ngemah – Alexander Vincent  (PRS)
N44 Machan – Gramong Juna  (PBB)
N45 Bukit Assek – Chieng Buong Toon   (SUPP)
N46 Dudong – Datuk Tiong Thai King  (SUPP)
N47 Bawang Assan – Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (SUPP)
N48 Pelawan – Vincent Goh Chung Siong   (SUPP)
N49 Nangka – Dr Annuar Rapaee    (PBB)
N50 Dalat – Fatimah Abdullah     (PBB)
N51 Balingian – Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud   (PBB)
N52 Tamin – Joseph Mauh ak Ikeh   (PRS)
N53 Kakus – John Sikie ak. Tayai (PRS)
N54 Pelagus – Stanley Nyitar (PRS)
N55 Katibas – Datuk Ambrose Blikau ak. Enturan (PBB)
N56 Baleh – Datuk Seri James Jemut. Masing (PRS)
N57 Belaga – Liwan Lagang (PRS)
N58 Jepak – Datuk  Talib Zulpilip (PBB)
N59 Kidurong – Henry Ling    (SUPP)
N60 Kemena – Dr Stephen Rundi ak Utom     (PBB)
N61 Bekenu – Rosey binti Yunus    (SPDP)
N62 Lambir – Ripin Lamat   (PBB)
N63 Piasau – Tan Sri Dr George Chan      (SUPP)
N64 Pujut – Andy Chia Chu Fatt   (SUPP)
N65 Senadin – Datuk Lee Kim Shin  (SUPP)
N66 Marudi – Sylvester Entrie  Muran    (SPDP)
N67 Telang Usan – Dennis Ngau     (PBB)
N68 Bukit Kota – Dr. Abdul Rahman Ismail     (PBB)
N69 Batu Danau – Palu @ Paulus ak. Gumbang    (SPDP)
N70 Ba’Kelalan (Yet to be announced)     (SPDP)
N71 Bukit Sari – Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan  (PBB)